What Happened to ‘Deadliest Catch’s Beloved Boat, Cornelia Marie?
What Happened to 'Deadliest Catch's Beloved Boat, Cornelia Marie?
Deadliest Catch is one of the most beloved Discovery Channel properties thanks to its extreme conditions and high-stakes drama. Now in its 20th season, one infamous fishing vessel has been missing from the show: the Cornelia Marie. As one of the most prominent crabbing ships on the series since its debut in 2005, the Cornelia Marie’s greatest tragedy occurred when Captain Phil Harris passed away due to a massive stroke. His sons, Jake Harris and Josh Harris, took on the responsibilities of the vessel before Josh purchased the boat with the help of Captain Casey McManus. While it did disappear for some time during Season 13, it had since returned. That is, until a series of unfortunate events.
Following the dangerous and crucial world of Alaska king crab fishing, Deadliest Catch captures the lives of the individuals who put everything at risk for their lucrative career. With rough waters and brutal competition, the series has amazed viewers for 20 seasons. With a cast of characters displaying their fervor and passion for the industry, there has been a dark cloud that has engulfed some off-camera drama that impacted the world on-camera. From shocking deaths to unfortunate legal woes, the individuals that led F/V Cornelia Marie have a storied past.
What Happened to F/V Cornelia Marie?
Over the course of the first decade of the show, the Cornelia Marie was one of the most beloved fishing vessels on Deadliest Catch. Helmed by Captain Phil Harris, the Cornelia Marie was a staple on the show as one of the four permanent fleets. Like all the other fishing boats on the program, the Cornelia Marie encountered its fair share of trials and tribulations, but nothing was as awful as an incident in 2010 where Captain Phil Harris suffered a stroke while offloading crabs in port. Despite his conditions improving, he suffered an intracranial hemorrhage, causing him to pass away in the hospital at the age of 53.
Following his passing, his sons, who were known for their sibling rivalry, took over for their father. They tried to earn enough money to purchase the ship, but they were ultimately unsuccessful. Now, it appears Josh was able to purchase the boat with Captain Casey McManus. During the 13th season of the show, the Cornelia Marie was missing. It alarmed longtime fans of the show as they questioned why it was gone. But it did eventually return a season later. So why was it gone? Well, Josh Harris stated that it wasn’t a dispute about money. It was simply a decision made by the production team at Discovery. By Season 17 of Deadliest Catch, Captain Casey solely took charge of the Cornelia Marie. And for good reason.
The Cornelia Marie is currently gone due to its association with Josh Harris. Following his guilty plea for a 1998 sexual assault case involving a minor, Discovery Channel and Deadliest Catch have severed ties with Josh Harris on the flagship program and its spin-offs. The report detailed Josh’s controversial incident as representatives for the network stated, “We’ve been made aware of this. Josh will not appear in future episodes of this series.” And thus, the ship was gone. Josh Harris was part of the spin-off Deadliest Catch: Bloodlines in 2020, alongside Casey McManus and local fisherman Jeff Silva. Tragedy has continued to strike the Harris family. For Jake Harris, he had been previously jailed for a DUI and then was arrested again for a DUI following publicized substance abuse problems.