Safety in the operation of watercraft

In the Vitebsk region, there are over 500 rivers and more than 2800 lakes. With the arrival of the long-awaited summer, hundreds of people flock to the water bodies. Water is a good friend and ally to humans, helping to get the most out of recreation and improve health. But at the same time, it does not tolerate carelessness and can be a source of increased danger.

During this period, people not only visit beaches but also engage in fishing and active water recreation, using various watercraft.

Often, during operation, the Rules for the Use of Small Vessels and the Rules for Navigation on Inland Waterways of the Republic of Belarus are violated. Adherence to these rules on the water will help save your life and the lives of others.

In this regard, during joint inspection activities with the State Inspectorate for Small Vessels of the Vitebsk region on June 24, 2021, the Vitebsk Transport Prosecutor's Office established on Lake Sosno in the Vitebsk district and Lake Losvido in the Gorodok district that vessel operators were violating legislation during the operation of small vessels at their disposal.

Thus, according to the Rules for the Use of Small Vessels, the vessel operator is obliged to take all measures to ensure the safety of navigation of the small vessel and prevent harm to people on board. It is forbidden to go to sea without a vessel ticket, a certificate of vessel's fitness for operation, and life jackets on a small vessel subject to state registration and classification and technical inspection.

However, on Lake Losvido, small rowing vessels (catamarans) owned by the Losvido tourist and health complex of UP Vitebskturist were rented out. These vessels had not undergone technical inspection in the prescribed manner and did not have vessel tickets or certificates of fitness for operation.

Similarly, on Lake Sosno, catamarans owned by the State Institution "Vitebsk District Physical Culture and Sports Club Urozhay" were rented out. These vessels had not undergone technical inspection in the prescribed manner and lacked a certificate of fitness for operation.

during operation, one catamaran on the water had a malfunction in the form of a hull crack, which is a clear technical damage.

Failure of boaters to comply with the established safety requirements when operating small vessels creates a threat to the life and health of citizens in the event of an emergency.

In addition, a number of citizens engaged in fishing were in rowing and motor boats without life jackets, in the absence of vessel registration certificates and certificates of vessel operational approval.

Based on the revealed violations, the Vitebsk transport prosecutor's office issued a directive to the heads of small vessel owners to eliminate violations of legislation during the operation of water transport facilities, and citizens were officially warned about the inadmissibility of violating the safety rules on water in the future.

Senior Assistant to the Vitebsk
Transport Prosecutor
Justice Advisor P.L. Domashevsky