From January 1 of this year, updated rules of conduct on water bodies and the use of small boats on water bodies of the Russian Federation began to operate.
The new Decree of the EMERCOM of Russia No. 487 dated 07/06/2020 is quite voluminous and includes items related to the requirements for the operation of small boats, the procedure for the movement and parking of ships, and the organization of passenger safety when using watercraft.
It is noted that, according to the legislation of the Russian Federation, vessels with a length of up to 20 m and a capacity of up to 12 passengers are classified as small.
Getting acquainted with the document, experts advise to pay attention to several important changes. The most important of them - the rules for the use of small boats. According to the decree, state registration, accounting, classification and inspection of ships are carried out by the territorial departments of the State Inspectorate for Small Vessels (GIMS) of the Emergencies Ministry of the Russian Federation. It is important that boats are still not subject to registration, all vessels up to 200 kg when moving under a motor no more powerful than 8 kW. Also, sports sailing yachts up to 9 m long and deckless non-self-propelled vessels up to 12 m long are not subject to registration.
According to the rules, it is not allowed to operate watercraft in the absence of individual life-saving appliances (vests) or their unsuitability. At the same time, the use of a life jacket is mandatory even when sailing on an unregistered vessel, including an inflatable boat.
In addition, it is prohibited: driving a boat while intoxicated, swimming in the waters of the beach and other places of mass recreation of citizens, transferring control of the vehicle to a person who does not have the right to drive or who is under the influence of alcoholic or narcotic substances.
When traveling on small boats, it is not allowed to transport children under 7 years old unaccompanied by adults. It is forbidden to throw garbage into water bodies or pollute water with oil products while traveling on a ship.
When the boat is moving near bodies of water, the speed should be reduced in such a way as to prevent the formation of large waves. In addition, it is forbidden to moor or stop the vessel within the fairway, near navigation signs or under bridges.
