GIMS informs

In order to ensure control over compliance with safety requirements during the operation of small vessels, officials of the State Inspectorate for Small Vessels (GIMS) regularly patrol water bodies located within their service area.

The Braslav section of GIMS is responsible for water bodies in the Braslav, Miory, and Sharkovshchina districts.

In accordance with 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 of 20.06.2007 No. 812 (as amended by the Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus of 28.12.2013 No. 1149), the operation of a small vessel that has not undergone state registration and classification and (or) technical inspection is prohibited. For violation of the established requirements, administrative liability is provided under Part 1 of Article 18.7 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Republic of Belarus in the form of a fine of up to 3 basic units (up to 126.0 rubles).

Small vessels not subject to state registration (rowing boats, kayaks, and inflatable vessels with a carrying capacity of less than 225 kg) do not undergo technical inspection; however, their technical condition must comply with the established safety requirements for their operation, and if their technical condition does not comply with such requirements, skippers operating such small vessels may also receive an administrative fine of up to 126.0 rubles.

Currently, the Rules for ensuring the technical safety "Requirements for the operational condition of small vessels and bases (structures) for their parking on inland waterways of the Republic of Belarus, approved by the Resolution of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Republic of Belarus dated 16.04.2014 No. 11 (as amended on 15.09.2021), which establish safety requirements for small vessels weighing up to 100 kg, stipulate that small vessels must be equipped with a bilge system or bilge means. In particular, deckless small vessels, which are the majority on our reservoirs, are equipped with a bilge pump or a bailer made of non-sinking material. Small vessels, with the exception of rowing boats, sailboats, and personal watercraft, must be equipped with a fire extinguisher (powder or carbon dioxide) with a fire extinguishing agent mass of at least 2 kg. Also, all small vessels, with the exception of personal watercraft, must be equipped with a first-aid kit (universal first-aid kit), the list of contents of which differs from the completeness of a car first-aid kit.

At the same time, I draw your attention to the fact that fire protection equipment and bilge means must be in good working order, and the medical preparations in the first-aid kit must have unexpired shelf lives.

From 01.05.2024, amendments to the Technical Regulation of the Customs Union "On the Safety of Small Vessels" (TR CU 026/2012), which previously established safety requirements for small vessels weighing over 100 kg, have come into force. Taking into account the amendments, the normative act has extended its effect to almost all small vessels, with the exception of small vessels less than 2.5 meters in length, on which an engine installation is not structurally provided.

In addition, the following points should be taken into account:

in order to ensure buoyancy, a small vessel must be equipped with buoyancy blocks or air tanks;

Individual life-saving appliances must be of industrial manufacture and comply with the requirements of TR CU 026/2012. In addition to individual life-saving appliances, the vessel must be equipped with a lifebuoy or a life ring with a line (a rescue line).

As for buoyancy blocks, they can be made of foam plastic, polystyrene foam, or other buoyant materials and should be located on the vessel in the following places: 50% of the total volume of buoyancy blocks – in the aft third of the vessel's hull, 25% – along the sides in the midship area, and 25% – in the bow (under the deck). The volume of buoyancy blocks depends on the material of the vessel's hull (wood, metal, plastic) and must ensure the vessel's unsinkability when filled with water. In other words, buoyancy blocks are designed to provide the helmsman and other persons who have fallen overboard with the ability to hold onto the vessel's hull, which must remain afloat (not sink, not capsize), and wait for assistance.

Currently, the situation in the village of Sloboda, Miory District, located on the left bank of the Western Dvina River, is of greatest concern. Local residents use homemade small vessels to get to the town of Verkhnedvinsk, located on the opposite bank of the river. At the same time, the small vessels they use do not comply with safety requirements, in particular, they are not equipped with buoyancy blocks, and since they are made of sheet metal, they will immediately sink when filled with water. Moreover, life jackets are never used when crossing to the opposite bank. For the safety requirements violations that occurred, administrative measures were taken against 6 local residents by the Braslav branch of the State Inspectorate for Small Vessels; however, unfortunately, the situation has not changed.

In order to prevent deaths on the water, on 31.10.2025, together with the Miory District Department for Emergency Situations, a trip was made to the village of Sloboda, where a village meeting was held with the participation of the chairman of the Uzmensky Rural Executive Committee, Boreisha A.Z., and local residents.

During communication with local residents, general safety requirements for operating small vessels, as well as liability measures depending on violations and their consequences, were explained.

As a visual example, information was provided about the criminal case considered in September 2025 by the court of Braslav district against a resident of Braslav district, who in July 2023, on his small vessel "Kazanka M" together with two companions, who were, like himself, in a state of alcoholic intoxication, went sailing on the lakes of Braslav district without the necessary set of vessel equipment (individual life-saving devices, a lifebuoy were missing), and also the buoyancy unit (air tank) on the vessel was damaged – there were breaches that did not ensure its tightness.

When people moved around the vessel while it was moving (one of the passengers stood up and leaned over the side), the boat tilted, then capsized, and all three ended up in the water. Not having life jackets, a resident of Minsk (60 years old) drowned, and the boat also sank. The depth at the scene was about 15 m.

According to the court verdict, the owner of the vessel, who was operating it, was sentenced to 3 years of imprisonment with a suspension of 2 years.

Local residents were also explained what needs to be done to ensure the unsinkability of their vessels, and attention was drawn to the purchase and use of life jackets when operating small vessels.

In order to comply with safety requirements for operating small vessels by residents of Sloboda village, Miory district, control by the Braslav section of GIMS will be carried out on a regular basis.

State Inspector

Braslav section of GIMS N.S.Silchenok