The Cornelia Marie is one of those vessels that means more than just a boat. As one of the most prominent crabbing ships on Deadliest Catch since its debut in 2005, the Cornelia Marie has been a staple of Discovery Channel‘s beloved reality series. But after years of drama, tragedy, and controversy, the question of who actually owns the Cornelia Marie today is one that trips up even the most dedicated fans.
The short answer: 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. Here’s the full story of how the Cornelia Marie went from a family fishing operation to one of the most dramatic ownership sagas in reality TV history.
Cornelia Marie — Vessel Highlights
| Vessel Name | F/V Cornelia Marie |
| Built | 1989 |
| Builder | Horton Boats, Bayou La Batre, Alabama |
| Length | 128 feet (39 m) |
| Width | 28 feet (8.5 m) |
| Home Port | Kodiak, Alaska |
| Original Owner | Ralph Collins (named after his wife Cornelia Marie Collins) |
| Most Famous Captain | Phil Harris (deceased 2010) |
| Current Owners | Taylor Jensen, Roger Thomas, Carrie Toya & Jake Albanino (since 2024) |
| Famous For | Discovery Channel’s Deadliest Catch |
| Fishes For | King crab, opilio/snow crab, salmon & herring tendering |
Who Owns the Cornelia Marie Today?
The boat recently resurfaced on Instagram with a fresh account, and information attached to the page declares that a number of fishermen now co-own the crabber. Among them are Roger Thomas, Kari Toivola, Jake Albinio and Taylor Jensen.
Taylor Jensen confirmed his involvement with an Instagram post of his own. “First shipyard as partners in this big blue piece of steel,” read the caption on his photo.
| Owner | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Taylor Jensen | Co-owner | Former Deadliest Catch deckhand/engineer (2018–2022) |
| Roger Thomas | Co-owner | Experienced Bering Sea fishing investor |
| Carrie Toya | Co-owner | Part of the new ownership group |
| Jake Albanino | Co-owner & Captain | Now captaining the vessel |
The Original Story — How It All Began
The Cornelia Marie was built in 1989 in Bayou La Batre, Alabama, on commission from original owner Ralph Collins; she was one of the last boats built by Horton Boats. Named after Ralph’s wife, co-owner Cornelia Marie Collins, the boat is 128 feet long and 28 feet wide.
Ralph and Cornelia Marie divorced; she took ownership of the boat. She eventually sold a partial share to Captain Phil Harris.
The Phil Harris Era — The Heart of the Cornelia Marie
Phillip Charles Harris (December 19, 1956 – February 9, 2010) was an American captain and part owner of the F/V Cornelia Marie. By the time he was 21 he was one of the youngest crab fishing boat captains on the Bering Sea.
From 2004 until his death, Harris and his boat were followed by an embedded film crew for the series Deadliest Catch. The F/V Cornelia Marie was first shown during the opilio crab portion of Season 1, as partner boat of the F/V Maverick. It became a regular fixture of the show from the second season on.
Harris suffered a stroke while offloading opilio crab on January 29, 2010, at Saint Paul Island, Alaska. He died from an intracranial hemorrhage on February 9, 2010, at the age of 53. His passing shocked fans worldwide and left the future of the Cornelia Marie deeply uncertain.
Key Milestones & Ownership History
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1989 | Cornelia Marie built by Horton Boats in Bayou La Batre, Alabama, for Ralph Collins |
| 2004 | First appears on Deadliest Catch Season 1 as partner vessel of the F/V Maverick |
| 2010 | Captain Phil Harris dies on February 9 at age 53 from intracranial hemorrhage |
| 2014 | Josh Harris purchases the boat and begins fishing during the 2014 Opilio Crab season |
| 2015 | Roger Thomas and partner Kari Toivola purchase a 50% stake; the vessel is repowered with new engines |
| 2020 | Josh Harris stars in spin-off Deadliest Catch: Bloodline |
| 2022 | A decades-old court document surfaces revealing Josh Harris had pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a minor. Discovery severs all ties with Harris and removes episodes from streaming |
| June 2024 | New ownership group led by Taylor Jensen, Roger Thomas, Carrie Toya, and Jake Albanino purchases the vessel |
| 2025–26 | Still an active fishing vessel, participating in crab seasons and tendering |
The Josh Harris Controversy — Why the Cornelia Marie Left TV
In August 2022, a decades-old court document surfaced revealing that Josh Harris 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.
The Cornelia Marie disappeared from Deadliest Catch due to Josh Harris’s legal troubles and the show cutting ties with him and co-owner Casey McManus. The ship’s last appearance was in Season 18, and it did not return for Season 19 or 20.
The New Owners — What’s Next?
Jensen, who served as a deckhand, greenhorn, and engineer on the boat during his tenure on the show, is best remembered for his multiple injuries, with many dubbing him the “unluckiest” deckhand ever. Yet Jensen never gave up.
While the ship’s new social media makes it clear that it will still be used for crabbing and fishing, there’s no concrete word either way on its future on Deadliest Catch. If the owners decide to say yes to the show’s producers, that will take the Cornelia Marie up some very familiar watery straits.
My Take on the Cornelia Marie
The Cornelia Marie is more than a fishing boat — it is a floating piece of American television history. Phil Harris made it legendary. His sons tried to carry that torch, and one of them burned it down in the worst way possible. But the boat itself? It survived all of it. It’s still out there on the Bering Sea, still hauling crab, still doing what it was built to do in 1989. The new ownership group — especially Taylor Jensen, who paid his dues on that very deck — represents a genuinely hopeful new chapter. Whether the Cornelia Marie finds its way back to Deadliest Catch or not, the foundation that Phil Harris built on that vessel will never fully disappear. Some legacies are bigger than ownership papers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who owns the Cornelia Marie now?
As of 2024, the Cornelia Marie is co-owned by Taylor Jensen, Roger Thomas, Carrie Toya, and Jake Albanino.
Q: Who was the original owner of the Cornelia Marie?
The boat was originally built for Ralph Collins in 1989 and named after his wife, Cornelia Marie Collins.
Q: What happened to Josh Harris and the Cornelia Marie?
In 2022, a court document revealed Josh Harris had pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a minor. Discovery severed all ties and removed episodes featuring him from streaming.
Q: Is the Cornelia Marie still fishing? Yes. As of 2026, it is still an active fishing vessel participating in crab seasons and tendering operations.
Q: Will the Cornelia Marie return to Deadliest Catch? There is a possibility of the Cornelia Marie’s return to Deadliest Catch with Taylor Jensen involved, but its future remains uncertain.
Q: When did Phil Harris die?
Phil Harris died on February 9, 2010, from an intracranial hemorrhage following a stroke. He was 53.
Q: How big is the Cornelia Marie?
The Cornelia Marie is 128 feet long and 28 feet wide.
