Together for safety!

Vitebsk Transport Prosecutor's Office, in June 2024, in conjunction with representatives of the State Inspectorate for Small Vessels, conducted raid activities on the issue of operating small vessels.

It should be noted that a small vessel is a vessel with a length of no more than 20 meters with a permissible number of people on board not exceeding 12 people, including vessels with outboard engines and jet skis, with the exception of those built or equipped for commercial fishing, providing services for the transportation of goods and (or) passengers, towing, conducting exploration, prospecting and extraction of mineral resources, construction, track, hydraulic and other similar works, pilotage and icebreaker escort, carrying out measures to protect surface water bodies from pollution and debris, as well as those belonging to organizations of inland water transport of the Republic of Belarus, military, military-auxiliary, border and other vessels in state ownership and operated exclusively for non-commercial purposes.

Catamarans, used on many water bodies of the city, are also classified as small vessels.

As the raid activities showed, not all enterprises and organizations providing services for the rental of small vessels, as well as citizens themselves, comply with the specified requirements for the operation of small vessels, which, in turn, can lead to a tragedy on the water.

It has been established that, in violation of the Rules for the Use of Small Vessels and Bases (Structures) for Their Mooring, approved by the Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus dated June 20, 2007 No. 812, not all small vessels on the water have undergone technical inspection.

At the base for mooring small vessels, the logbook for small vessels going on voyages is kept in violation of established requirements.

Also, a number of catamarans were freely accessible 24/7, which could lead to both loss of property and unauthorized departure onto the water.

Riding on small vessels, including catamarans, was carried out by citizens without life jackets.

Moreover, children under 16 were riding without adult supervision and without life jackets.

         For the violations committed, orders to eliminate violations of the requirements of legislation on traffic safety and operation of small vessels were issued to the heads of enterprises.

         If the rules of traffic safety and operation of small vessels are observed, safe recreation will be guaranteed.