Disneyland’s Columbia Ship Ride Reopens

ANAHEIM — Closing a dark chapter in Disneyland history, guests rode the sailing ship Columbia around the park’s Rivers of America on Monday for the first time since a tourist was killed Christmas Eve while waiting to board.

With the cry “bow line clear!” sea chanteys echoing on board and a news helicopter beating accompaniment above, crew members in striped socks and three-cornered hats eased the 212-ton ship away from the dock just before 1 p.m.

Most of the 200 passengers seemed to ignore the reason for the media attention, concentrating instead on the sights as the replica of an 18th century ship, riding on a submerged rail, passed Splash Mountain and Tom Sawyer Island.

The accident “doesn’t seem to be on anyone’s mind much, does it?” said Lanae Ross, who was on board with her husband, Tom, and son, Dustin. The family was surprised but pleased to find the Columbia open, she said.

The death last December occurred when an assistant manager, filling in for a regular crew member, put a mooring rope on the ship’s bow as it approached the dock too fast. The line ripped loose a metal mooring piece, flinging it into a crowd where it struck a Duvall, Wash., tourist, inflicting fatal head injuries.

The accident prompted the drafting of a bill in the state Assembly that would require parks like Disneyland to make public reports on accidents and submit to independent inspections. California is among only 12 states that do not regulate permanent amusement parks.

State worker safety officials fined Disney $12,500 for inadequately training the worker and misusing equipment.

In a report on how the problems have been fixed, the Department of Occupational Health and Safety noted that anyone assigned to the Columbia, including managers, now must have hands-on training before operating the ride.

Guidelines that include “verification of necessary knowledge and skills” have been put in place, Cal/OSHA officials said.