A New Era for the Cornelia Marie: The Legacy of Captain Phil and the Storm of Scandal

Dutch Harbor, Alaska — For more than a decade, the fishing vessel Cornelia Marie was one of the most recognizable stars of Discovery Channel’s Deadliest Catch. Fans came to know the boat as the home of the tough but beloved Captain Phil Harris, who led the crew through the brutal Bering Sea until his death in 2010. His sons, Josh and Jake, pledged to carry on his legacy.

But in August 2022, a decades-old court document surfaced that changed everything. It revealed that Josh Harris, once the face of the Cornelia Marie, had pleaded guilty in 1999 to sexually assaulting a minor when he was 15. The disturbing revelation led Discovery to sever all ties with Harris and swiftly remove episodes featuring him from streaming platforms.

A Vessel Built for the Sea

The Cornelia Marie was built in 1989 at Horton Boats in Bayou La Batre, Alabama. At 128 feet long and weighing in with twin Cummins diesel engines, the steel-hulled vessel was engineered to withstand the harshest seas. It quickly earned a reputation for reliability and endurance, hauling hundreds of thousands of pounds of crab each season.

Commissioned by Ralph Collins and named after his wife, Cornelia Marie Collins, the vessel carried a personal legacy from its inception. With its aquamarine hull and bold yellow accents, it became one of the most recognizable boats in the Alaskan fleet.

Captain Phil Harris: Heart of the Boat

Phil Harris, who took command of the Cornelia Marie in 1998, became the soul of the vessel and later, of Deadliest Catch. Known for his tough leadership and loyalty to his crew, Harris balanced a hard exterior with humor and genuine care.

He became a fan favorite when the Cornelia Marie joined Deadliest Catch in 2005. His death in February 2010, following a massive stroke, was one of the most emotional moments ever broadcast on the series, watched by more than 5 million viewers.

The Harris Brothers’ Struggles

After Phil’s passing, his sons Josh and Jake fought to keep the Cornelia Marie afloat. Josh eventually partnered with Casey McManus to relaunch the vessel on Deadliest Catch. While Josh worked to preserve his father’s legacy, Jake struggled with substance abuse and repeated arrests, including a prison sentence in 2019.

The Cornelia Marie disappeared from the show in 2017 but returned in later seasons. In 2020, Josh starred in a spin-off, Deadliest Catch: Bloodline, after discovering fishing maps left behind by his father.

But in 2022, Harris’s hidden past surfaced, bringing his career to an abrupt end. Discovery quickly cut ties, also impacting McManus, who was uninvolved but lost his role as captain on the show.

A New Chapter

In June 2024, a new ownership group led by Taylor Jensen, Roger Thomas, Carrie Toya, and Jake Albanino purchased the vessel. Albanino has since taken over as captain, steering the boat into its next era. The group emphasized a focus on fishing, not fame — marking the first time since Captain Phil’s death that the Cornelia Marie is free of Harris family ties.

For fans, the boat remains a symbol of resilience — from its early days as a Gulf Coast build, through Phil Harris’s unforgettable leadership, to its survival amid scandal.