The State Inspection for Small Vessels of the Vitebsk Region informs

During the implementation of administrative procedures by the State Inspectorate for Small Vessels of the Vitebsk Region in 2025 (a total of 5914 procedures for state registration, registration of changes, and technical inspection of small vessels were carried out) and the conduct of control activities on the water bodies of the region (523 raids conducted), 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 the State Inspectorate for their registration in a timely manner – more than 30 days after acquisition). The remaining number of offenses (721) involved non-compliance with safety requirements during the operation of small vessels directly on water bodies. At the same time, 16 violators were brought to administrative responsibility in the form of a fine.

Despite the preventive measures taken, there were fatalities in the Vitebsk region in 2025 related to violations of safety requirements during the operation of small vessels – for this reason, 2 people drowned (in the Ushachsky district at Lake Polozerye and in the Vitebsk district on the Western Dvina River). The main causes of fatalities were operating a vessel under the influence of alcohol and the failure to use personal flotation devices (life jackets).

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

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

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

The following is prohibited:

• - Operating a small vessel if it has not undergone state registration and classification in the established manner and/or technical inspection, or is in an unfit technical condition, including the absence or malfunction of buoyancy blocks, as well as the absence of the necessary equipment on the vessel;
• - Operating a small vessel while under the influence of alcohol and/or in a state caused by the consumption of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, their analogs, toxic or other intoxicating substances;
• - Violating load capacity norms and the permissible number of people on board;
• - Using an engine on a small vessel that exceeds the maximum allowable power and/or quantity, as well as installing an engine on rowing small vessels;
• - Operating a small vessel and being on it while in motion without a life jacket, or in an unfastened life jacket;
• - Operating a small vessel with persons on board without fastened life jackets;
• - Operating a small vessel with persons on towed devices without fastened life jackets;
• - Transporting children under 7 years of age on a small vessel without the accompaniment of an adult. In this case, the boat operator is not considered the accompanying person.

The State Inspectorate for Small Vessels of the Vitebsk Region also calls for compliance with established requirements for state registration and classification of acquired small vessels and to ensure maximum safety in their use.

All small vessels, except for rowing boats, kayaks, and inflatable vessels with a load capacity of less than 225 kilograms, must undergo state registration with the State Inspectorate.

State registration and classification of small vessels are carried out at the territorial sections of the State Inspectorate at the place of residence of the individual, including individual entrepreneurs, at the location of the legal entity (its separate subdivision).

The deadline for the owner of a small vessel to apply to the State Inspectorate for state registration of the vessel is within 30 calendar days from the day following the day of purchase of the small vessel or its acquisition on another legal basis.

Changes to the information to be entered in the ship's register (surname, address of the owner's residence, change of vessel type, acquisition of an outboard motor, exclusion from the ship's register, etc.) are also subject to state registration with the State Inspectorate.

The deadline for an interested party to apply to the State Inspectorate for state registration of changes is 14 calendar days from the day they became aware of such changes.

State registration and classification of a small vessel may be refused, in particular, if the small vessel or the operational documentation lacks a single mark of product circulation in the market of the states - members of the Customs Union.

Small vessels registered with the State Inspectorate must timely undergo technical inspection.

The boat operator is prohibited from operating a small vessel if it has not undergone state registration and classification in the established manner and/or technical inspection, or is in an unfit technical condition, and the necessary equipment is also absent on the vessel.

At the end of 2025, changes to the existing legislation regarding the operation of small vessels were approved in the Republic of Belarus.

Thus, on December 16, 2025, the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus adopted Resolution No. 731 "On the Issues of Operating Small Vessels," which approved in a new edition the "Regulation on State Registration and Classification of Small Vessels...", "Regulation on the Procedure for Technical Inspection of Small Vessels...", "Regulation on the Procedure and Grounds for Issuing, Exchanging, Annulment and Withdrawal of Certificates for the Right to Operate Motor Small Vessels...", "Regulation on the Procedure and Grounds for Issuing, Exchanging, Annulment and Withdrawal of International Certificates for the Right to Operate Pleasure Vessels..." and "Rules for the Use of Small Vessels and Bases (Structures) for Their Moorings."

The specified normative legal act comes into force on January 1, 2026.

We draw special attention to the owners of small vessels and boat operators that most of the changes concern the Rules for the Use of Small Vessels, which need to be studied and subsequently followed in the upcoming season.

In particular, at the legislative level, the obligation of the vessel owner when providing a small vessel for rent or other use is established to provide the small vessel in a fit technical condition with the necessary equipment, as well as a ship ticket and a certificate of the vessel's admission to operation (for a small vessel subject to state registration and classification). This primarily concerns vessel owners who rent out living accommodations to vacationers, to whom they provide their boats for use.

Responsibility is also established for the boat operator, i.e., the person operating the small vessel, for operating the small vessel with persons on board or on towed devices (water skis, wakeboards, "bananas", tubes, sail-parachute devices) without fastened life jackets. This requirement also applies to the boat operator themselves.

On small vessels towing the specified devices, in addition to the boat operator, there must be another person who is obliged to monitor the people on them and inform the boat operator of any emergency situations involving them.

Another innovation is the prohibition on transporting children under 7 years of age on a small vessel without the accompaniment of an adult. In this case, the boat operator is not considered the accompanying person.

All requirements of the legislation regarding the registration of small vessels and their operation can be found on the official website of the State Inspectorate for Small Vessels of the Republic of Belarus on the Internet in the "Legislation" section.

State Inspectorate for Small Vessels of the Vitebsk Region