Information of the GIMS of the Vitebsk region based on the results of 2023

The State Inspectorate for Small Vessels (hereinafter referred to as GIMS) of the Vitebsk region informs that in 2023, 7 accidents involving small vessels (rowboats and motorboats, motorboats, sailboats, jet skis, catamarans) occurred in our region, resulting in 6 deaths and 4 rescues. The rescued individuals were equipped with life jackets.

All deceased individuals were without life jackets.

The highest number of transport accidents involving small vessels in 2023 (2 cases each) was recorded in Braslavsky (on June 9, 2023, a citizen born in 1960 drowned in Lake Plyusy, and on July 5, 2023, a passenger, a citizen born in 1963, died in Lake Strusto) and Chashniksky districts (on July 1, 2023, 4 people were rescued on Lake Lukomskoye – all were wearing life jackets when they fell into the water, and on August 26, 2023, a citizen born in 1955 drowned in Lake Kobylshchina). Fatalities involving small vessels (one death each) were also recorded in Vitebsky (on July 13, 2023, a citizen born in 1962 drowned in the Oblyanka River), Sharkovshchinsky (on June 18, 2023, a citizen born in 1959 drowned in Lake Knyazh), and Lepelsky districts (on August 21, 2023, a passenger, a citizen born in 1976, died in Lake Lepelskoye).

The causes of death in the specified cases were:

disregard for basic safety measures when using small vessels, specifically the failure of the deceased to wear life jackets (in accordance with clause 9 of the Rules for the Use of Small Vessels, the skipper and persons on board a small vessel must wear fastened life jackets while underway);
operation of small vessels while under the influence of alcohol (in accordance with paragraph 4 of clause 16 of the Rules for the Use of Small Vessels, it is prohibited for a skipper to operate a small vessel while under the influence of alcohol...);
movement of persons on board a small vessel while it is underway (in accordance with paragraph 3 of clause 18 of the Rules for the Use of Small Vessels, it is prohibited to move persons on an open-decked small vessel while it is underway);

operation of small vessels (including homemade ones) with outboard engines that have not undergone state registration and technical inspection (according to paragraph 3 of clause 19 of the Rules for the use of small vessels, the operation of a small vessel is prohibited if it has not undergone state registration and classification, and technical inspection in the prescribed manner);
operation of a small vessel in conditions of limited visibility or in adverse weather conditions (according to paragraph 11 of clause 16 of the Rules for the use of small vessels, it is prohibited to navigate a vessel in fog or other adverse meteorological conditions).

In 4 out of 6 cases, fatalities were recorded with homemade rowing vessels of individual construction, which are not subject to registration. In 70% of cases, fatalities occurred between 5:00 PM on Friday and 6:00 PM on Sunday, typically at a significant distance from the shore, and in 84% of cases, the deceased were intoxicated.

Analyzing the causes and conditions that contributed to the accident with a fatality, it can be stated that people being on a small vessel with a fastened life jacket maximizes their survival rate when falling into the water.

For violations of the rules for the use of small vessels in 2023, GIMS employees of the Vitebsk region issued 868 resolutions on bringing small vessel captains to administrative responsibility.

Regarding vessel captains in the Braslav and Lepel districts, who are guilty of the death of passengers on a small vessel when it capsized, the issue of initiating a criminal case under Article 316 "Violation of safety rules for movement or operation of small vessels" of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus is being considered, the maximum penalty for which is imprisonment for a term of four to ten years.

FOR SAFE OPERATION OF A SMALL VESSEL, THE CAPTAIN IS PROHIBITED FROM:

operating a motorized small vessel whose engine power exceeds 3.7 kilowatts (5 horsepower) without carrying a certificate of entitlement to operate a motorized small vessel or an international certificate of entitlement to operate a pleasure craft;
operating a small vessel in a sick or fatigued state that jeopardizes navigation safety, or under the influence of medications that reduce attention and reaction speed;

operating a small vessel while intoxicated and/or under the influence of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, their analogues, toxic or other stupefying substances;
transferring the control of a small vessel to a person who does not have a license to operate a small vessel, a person who does not have a certificate for the right to operate a motor small vessel or an international certificate for the right to operate a pleasure craft, as well as a person who is intoxicated and/or under the influence of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, their analogues, toxic or other stupefying substances;
operating a small vessel that is in a technically faulty condition and/or without the necessary set of equipment, in violation of the conditions specified in its classification certificate;
leaving a water area unattended;
violating load capacity norms and the permissible number of people on board;
using an engine on a small vessel that exceeds the maximum permissible power and/or number, as well as installing an engine on rowing small vessels;
setting sail in the absence of a ship's ticket and a certificate of vessel's fitness for operation on a small vessel subject to state registration and classification, and technical inspection;
navigating a vessel in fog or other adverse weather conditions when it is impossible to orient due to lack of visibility;
creating obstacles for the navigation of other vessels;
setting sail on small vessels without prescribed navigation lights during darkness;
entering water areas designated for swimming, approaching closer than 50 meters to the marked swimming boundaries near beaches, and when operating motor small vessels with water skis or similar equipment, approaching closer than 100 meters to such boundaries;
mooring to floating navigational aids;
stopping a small vessel or anchoring within a fairway, in the zone of bridges and under bridges;
transporting dangerous goods;
towing small vessels with people on board or under the side.

All small vessels (with the exception of rowing boats, kayaks, and inflatable vessels with a carrying capacity of less than 225 kilograms) are subject to mandatory registration and classification. The owner must register a small vessel within 30 calendar days from the date of purchase or acquisition of the small vessel on any other legal basis.

Operation of a small vessel is possible only after registration in the ship's log, application of hull numbers, and technical inspection, which is carried out immediately after state registration or during its operation.

Based on this, the State Inspectorate for Small Vessels of the Vitebsk Region urges citizens to comply with the established requirements when operating small vessels and to ensure the maximum safety of their use. By observing the established safety rules, you guarantee your life and the lives of those around you – your life is in your hands. Do not neglect these rules!