FV Cornelia Marie

Career
Name: Cornelia Marie
Owner: Josh Harris, Casey McManus
Operator: Casey McManus
Port of registry: Kodiak, Alaska, United States
Builder: Horton Boats, Bayou La Batre, Alabama
Yard number: 255
Completed: 1989
Identification: IMO: 8852538[1]
Status: In Service
General characteristics
Tonnage:198 GT
135 NT
Length:128 ft (39 m)
Beam:28 ft (8.5 m)
Draft:11.70 ft (3.57 m)
Propulsion:2 × Mitsubishi Diesel, dual shafts
Speed:14.50 knots (26.85 km/h; 16.69 mph)

The FV Cornelia Marie is one of the commercial crab fishing boats featured on the Discovery Channel series Deadliest Catch.

The boat was formerly owned by Cornelia Marie Devlin (formerly Collins) and prior to his death, Phil Harris (who served as captain). Phil's son, Josh Harris, recently purchased the boat and began fishing with it during the 2014 Opilio Crab season. The FV Cornelia Marie returned to the Discovery Channel's program "Deadliest Catch" in the 8th episode of the 10th season. Her current home port is Kodiak, Alaska.

History

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, she is 128 feet (39 m) long, 28 feet (8.5 m) wide, and carries 28,500 U.S. gallons (23,700 imp gal; 108,000 L) of fuel and 3,000 U.S. gallons (2,500 imp gal; 11,000 L) of fresh water.[2][3] The Cornelia Marie fishes for King, and Opilio crab (also called Snow Crab), and also does Salmon and Herring tendering. She features an aquamarine and white paint scheme with yellow banners bearing the ship's name.

Ralph and Cornelia Marie divorced, and Cornelia Marie took ownership of the boat. She eventually sold partial share to captain Phil Harris. His share is currently in possession of his estate.

The ship was seen (but not named) in background footage for the two pilots of the Discovery Channel series Deadliest Catch. It was selected for a camera crew for Season 1, in the 2004 opilio crab season, as partner vessel of featured vessel Maverick. The ship took part in the rescue efforts for the Big Valley, which sunk on the first day of the opilio crab season off Saint Paul Island, losing all but one crewmember. It became a featured vessel beginning in the second season, joining Maverick, Northwestern and Time Bandit, and later Wizard.

Captain Phil Harris

Captain Phil Harris died February 9, 2010. He had suffered a stroke on January 29, 2010, while in port off-loading at Saint Paul Island in Alaska[4] and subsequently died on February 9 from a pulmonary embolism.[5]

Alaskan songwriter Britt Arnesen wrote a eulogy-in-song for Capt. Harris, released on the Cornelia Marie website.[6]

Post-Harris era

Derrick Ray finished the remaining Opilio season after the death of Phil Harris. Jim Wilson skippered the Cornelia Marie for their 2010 spring and summer tendering contracts. He was among those being considered to run the boat for the rest of the 2010 opilio crab season before Derrick Ray was selected.[7]

The FV Cornelia Marie participated in the 2010 King Crab season with the same crew from the latter half of the 2010 Opilio season. Before the King Crab season started, the crew of the Cornelia Marie spread Phil Harris's ashes in the Bering Sea. The ship had a crew change for the 2011 Opilio season, including the replacement of skipper Derrick Ray with Tony Lara.[8]

The Cornelia Marie returned for Season 7 of Deadliest Catch.

The FV Cornelia Marie returned to Kodiak, Alaska in late October 2011, under the command of Capt. Tony Lara, following a spell in dry dock to undergo maintenance and to be repainted.

The Cornelia Marie, while still fishing under the classification of a "Trawler", was not featured on Season 8 of Deadliest Catch. Josh Harris was featured as a crew member on the FV Time Bandit and Jake Harris was featured as a crew member on the FV Northwestern.

The Cornelia Marie was shown tied-up and unpowered in Kodiak, Alaska in the Season 9 Opener for Discovery Channel's Deadliest Catch. The vessel was filmed in October 2012.

In March 2013 captain Johnathan Hillstrand announced during the taping of the Artie Lange Show that Josh Harris bought the Cornelia Marie.

On April 25th, 2013 Josh Harris confirmed in an interview on Rock 105.3 "The Show" in San Diego, CA that he has bought the Cornelia Marie.

On September 13th, 2013, Josh Harris announced on his personal Facebook page that the Cornelia Marie was not optioned by the Discovery Channel for Season 10 of Deadliest Catch. The Deadliest Catch F/V Cornelia Marie Facebook Page announced on March 14th 2014 that while the Cornelia Marie will not be on the King Crab episodes; she will be on for Opilio. Eventually she did end up being on the show for the 2014 king crab season.

See also

References

External links