State Inspectorate for Small Vessels of Vitebsk Region informs

 During the administrative procedures carried out by the State Inspectorate for Small Vessels of Vitebsk Region in 2025 (a total of 5914 procedures for state registration,  registration of changes, and technical inspection of small vessels) and control measures conducted on the region's water bodies (523 raids), 885 violations of established legal requirements were identified. Of these, 148 violations were related to non-compliance with the deadlines for state registration of small vessels (owners of such vessels applied to GIMS for registration belatedly – more than 30 days after acquisition). The remaining number of offenses (721) were related to non-compliance with safety requirements during the operation of small vessels directly on water bodies. In this regard, 16 offenders were brought to administrative responsibility in the form of a fine.

Despite the preventive measures taken, in 2025, there were fatalities in the Vitebsk region related to violations of safety requirements during the operation of small vessels – 2 people drowned for this reason (in Ushachy district on Lake Polozerie and Vitebsk district on the Western Dvina River). The main causes of death were operating a vessel while intoxicated and not using personal protective equipment (life jackets).

Overall, over the past 5 years, the statistics on fatalities during the use of small vessels in the Vitebsk region remain quite unfavorable – 38 people have died.

At the same time, the most unfavorable situation is observed in Verkhnedvinsk district, where 7 people died while using small vessels over the past 5 years, as well as in Ushachy district, where 6 people died, and in Polotsk and Chashniki districts – 4 deaths each. All deceased were without life jackets.

 

Compliance with established safety requirements during the operation of small vessels will ensure the preservation of citizens' lives and health.

It is prohibited:

-   to operate a small vessel if it has not undergone state registration and classification and (or) technical inspection in the prescribed manner, or is in a faulty technical condition, including missing or faulty buoyancy blocks, or if the vessel lacks the necessary equipment set;

-   to operate a small vessel while intoxicated and (or) under the influence of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, their analogues, toxic or other intoxicating substances;

-    to violate cargo capacity norms and the permissible number of people on board;

-   to use an engine on a small vessel that exceeds the maximum permissible power and (or) quantity, as well as to install an engine on rowing small vessels;

-    to operate a small vessel and be on it while moving without a life jacket, or with an unfastened life jacket;

-   to operate a small vessel with persons on board without fastened life jackets;

-    to operate a small vessel with persons on towed devices without fastened life jackets;