The growth of new users of water-powered equipment has a steady growing trend. The boat is the most popular, comfortable and diverse type of water-powered equipment. According to their functional purpose, they can be recreational, sports, fishing, passenger, etc.
Potential boat owners who are purchasing water-powered equipment for the first time are interested in questions about the required set of documents provided for registering a boat, about the authority or institution conducting registration, and about the requirements for shipowners to operate a boat. But first you need to define the concept of “boat”.
According to current regulations, a boat is an engineering structure with a stationary propulsion unit, capable of moving on water and carrying loads and transporting people.
GIMS rights
GIMS (State Inspectorate for Small Vessels) is an independent authority that is part of the structure of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Russian Federation.
GIMS exercises control and supervision of legal relations related to small vessels, including:
- registers small vessels in the registry;
- issues ship tickets to citizens for a registered ship;
- conducts a survey (technical inspection);
- administers navigational exams and issues boat driving licenses to citizens.
A vessel less than 20 meters in length and unable to carry more than 12 people on board is considered undersized. In this case, there is a limitation on the power of a permanently installed engine. It is limited to 75 hp. There are no maximum power limits for outboard engines.
A GIMS license is a document confirming a citizen’s right to operate a small boat. It is a certificate similar to a car license. The certificate confirms that the navigator has the necessary level of theoretical knowledge and is able in practice to operate a small vessel safely and in accordance with the rules of navigation.
Citizens over 18 years of age who, due to health reasons, are able to operate a vessel have the right to operate a vessel.
Which vessels are covered?
GIMS regulates the management of small vessels - types of watercraft whose hull length is less than 20 m, and they must also accommodate no more than 12 people. The power indicator cannot be more than 75 horsepower. Otherwise, the inspection will assign the product a different class.
Important!
An outboard motor, or rather its power, is not subject to inspection limits. The parameters are not limited.
Watercraft differ from each other in appearance, performance and control method. Therefore, all rights are divided into:
- Permit for jet skis (aka jet ski).
- Sailboat permit.
- For a motor boat (including a boat license or a boat license with a motor).
- Rights to a boat that combines both a sail and a motor.
- Permit for specific vessels.
For clarity, here are a few examples. Owners of boats need to apply and obtain a license for a motorized vessel. And for those who own a yacht, the sailing category is suitable. Typically, boat driving license holders have stamps in several categories at once.
Note!
The use of water transport for commercial purposes is prohibited by law; this is stated, among other things, in the captain’s certificate.
Types of rights
The GIMS carries out certification for obtaining driving rights in the following categories depending on the type of small vessel:
- jet ski;
- small size (motor vessel, sail-motor vessel, sailing vessel, vessel of a special design).
In addition to the category of the vessel, the license indicates the area of permitted navigation. This is a navigation area where the skipper has the right to go.
The navigation areas into which small vessels are allowed to sail include:
- Inland waters. These are lakes, not navigable rivers.
- Inland waterways. These are navigable rivers where the rules of the GDP apply to navigation.
- Internal sea waters and territorial sea of the Russian Federation.
- Sea coastal waters with a distance from the coast of up to 20 miles.
When specifying a specific navigation area, the vessel's sailing range from the shore is established. Thus, the previously existing categories for the right to operate a small vessel “boat”, “motor boat” have been combined into a new category “small motor vessel”.
How to obtain a water transport license
Discussions on this topic are ongoing in 2021. Owners who testify that a license for an unregistered boat is not required argue that the laws do not contain information about the mandatory presence of this document.
Important! The current legislation, as well as the supervised bodies of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, do not provide for requirements for a certificate for the right to operate small vessels that are not intended for state registration. The management of GIMS came to the conclusion: due to the lack of rights to operate an unregistered boat, there is no administrative responsibility.
GIMS documents confirm that navigators can drive small vessels with state registration, having a driver’s license for a boat or other small vessels.
You cannot register boats whose weight is up to 200 kg inclusive and whose motor power is up to eight kilowatts.
A small boat does not comply with state registration if two conditions are met:
- The mass of the complete apparatus (body with a heavy power unit) is no more than two hundred kilograms.
- Power no more than 10.88 hp.
If the boat does not meet the registration conditions, then a boating license is not required.
The procedure for obtaining a license for a boat with a motor is divided into main parts, each of which has an important role, so you should approach them more carefully. The same principle will provide the opportunity to quickly think through actions without making mistakes. Thus, obtaining rights to a boat, according to GIMS, includes the following steps:
- collection of evidence;
- undergoing a medical examination and obtaining a certificate;
- completing a full training program;
- passing exams in the GMS organization, in courses;
- submission of a document in the form of an application for the issuance of rights and their further receipt.
Certificate of medical examination
Anyone wishing to exercise the right to administer a small court must obtain confirmation from doctors about their state of health before the exams. You can accept this certificate in 1 day by going through the following specialists:
- psychiatrist;
- narcologist;
- therapist;
- ophthalmologist;
- neurologist;
- surgeon;
- otolaryngologist.
After passing the specialists, you need to take training courses.
Training courses at GIMS
To obtain the right to operate a boat, you need to contact the state authority for small boats. Only in this organization can owners be registered and given permission. But there they must be asked to take an exam after training.
Finding a school or course that teaches boating can be difficult because it is not easy to find in certain regions. There are courses at the state inspectorate for small vessels or at special universities and technical schools. If you have a diploma in a specialty related to boats or ships, there is no need to undergo training or pass an exam.
There are boat management courses in almost every big city. In some situations, you can find out where such centers are located after contacting GIMS. The training period ranges from one and a half to six months and everything takes place next to the training center, which offers its services.
Disciplines studied
During the learning process, the student must master the material; the program in each organization is almost identical. Training courses for the right to operate small vessels in the state inspection include the following disciplines:
- navigation for the inland waterways (inland waterways) and the Russian Federation;
- rigging;
- basics of hydrometeorology;
- rules of navigation on the waterway;
- boat arrangement;
- liability of ship drivers;
- basics of radio communication.
The duration of training is about 2 months regarding the schedule and category. For example, the theory on GDP (contains six lessons of two hours each, and in maritime theory - eight lessons of two hours each. As with a car license, training is divided into two parts: theory and practice.
Theoretical knowledge
Obtaining a driver's license is impossible without an additional exam on knowledge of the theory, which is taught in training centers throughout the year. But it is available for study remotely or independently; then you need to pass certification, which gives you the right to operate a boat. Publications or services that present tickets should help with this. They offer tasks with different answers, where only one of the proposed options is correct.
Learn the rules for driving on inland waterways
If you want to get a boat driver's license to travel on water, you need to study twenty tickets, each of which has 10 questions and four answer options. A few questions, which are given as an example, are below.
| Question | Correct answer |
| When committing an administrative offense, the ship is detained in what cases? · before the case is considered; · before drawing up the protocol; · before the start of work of the resolution; · until the reason is removed. | 4 |
| Why does a boat driver need an aneroid barometer with him? · to measure the temperature of a liquid; · to measure the characteristics of the wind - its strength and direction; · displays atmospheric pressure; · to determine air humidity. | 3 |
| What needs to be done when a state inspection vessel for small water transport moves horizontally with a signal flag? stop the ship; · move closer to the patrol board; · go along the board from the go-ahead side; · go back on course. | 1 |
Tickets that will be offered for the exam are available on the main website of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the State Institute of Medical Sciences of Russia. Sometimes they are amended, so it is recommended to find out more about the innovations.
Studying the rules of movement by sea
To open the category and navigation area of sea routes, you need to learn twenty more tickets. They also have ten questions with four answer options. During the theoretical exam period, only 1 ticket is issued. Example tasks that appear on the exam are below.
Question 1. It is necessary to find a punishment option (admin.), which is provided for driving a vessel by a person who does not have the rights:
- Just a warning.
- Warnings with fines.
- Deprivation of rights.
- Only a fine.
Answer: 4.
Question 2. Who has the right to drive vehicles intended for movement on water?
- Anyone who has a certificate or certificate for completing a ship drivers course.
- A person who has a diploma to be a driver.
- A person with the driver's license of a boat or speedboat.
- Any citizen of the Russian Federation who has reached 18 years of age.
Answer: 3.
You are allowed to make no more than two mistakes on the ticket, otherwise the test will not be passed. As a rule, now the exam is carried out on computers - the candidate immediately sees the mistakes made and the result.
Practical knowledge
The practice is usually performed in spring, summer and autumn. But there are organizations that are ready to offer training in winter (the cost of the course is lower at this time), because there are water areas that do not freeze. Classes can be conducted at temperatures down to -10 degrees. In southern settlements, classes are held throughout the year. When choosing a training center, it is important to find out what boats and small vehicles the lessons are taught on. In areas of Moscow, these may be the following vessels:
- The yacht is 13 m long, three meters wide. It can accommodate up to twelve passengers. An engine with a power of 150 hp is installed. strength
- The yacht is 13.5 m long, three wide, can accommodate 12 hours. The engine power is 80 hp. strength The model is for training purposes only.
- The jet ski is just over 3 m long and 1.13 m wide, the number of people on board is no more than 3. The device has an engine with a power of one hundred horsepower, due to which a speed of 100 km/h is achieved.
- Yacht with sails. Its length is 4.5 m, width 2 m. It accommodates up to four passengers in a vehicle, and is used as training for ship drivers and for increasing qualifications in IYT courses.
- Motor yacht "Vega". The water transport is 19 m long and 5.2 meters wide with a side height of 2.7 and is capable of transporting 12 people (load capacity more than 7 thousand kg). A powerful engine of 150 horsepower is installed. Suitable for going to sea and long voyages.
Different schools and regions differ in that they have different types of small boats. Students of courses from the GIMS organization most often undergo training on boats such as Rusbot-42, Stingray, MKM. These vessels are about four meters long and one and a half meters wide. These are the kind of boats that fishermen, hunters and those who love boating buy.
Admission to the exam for the right to operate a small boat
To obtain permission for drivers to take exams for the ability to operate a boat or other small craft, the commission conducting the exams will require the following documents:
- application on the driver’s personal card form;
- a copy of the diploma stating that the educational institution for the training and education of the driver of a small boat has been completed;
- medical certificate of fitness to operate a vessel;
- 2 photos size 3x4;
- document that identifies the driver (given on the day the exams are taken).
Author's comment. There are also grounds for refusal of admission: passing the exams is impossible if the persons have not undergone special training of a volume not lower than the boat driver training program created by the State Inspectorate. Examinations are not available to persons under 18 years of age.
Failure to provide the complete package of documents will result in the impossibility of passing the exams. These certificates include: an application on a sheet of the boatmaster’s personal card, a copy of the diploma, a medical certificate, 2 photographs. Also, taking the exam will not be possible for persons with health problems that are incompatible with driving small boats.
An unprovided personal card is a possible reason for an organization’s refusal to accept a driver to take the exam. The issued certificate is issued upon presentation of a card with a mark on the skills of practical control of a boat or other small vessel.
In what cases is a boat license required?
A license to operate a small craft is required to operate a vessel that is subject to registration in the register of small craft.
Small vessels whose weight does not exceed 200 kg and whose installed engine power does not exceed 10 hp are not subject to registration. That is, a license to operate a boat (small motorized vessel) is required if the engine power is in the range from 10 to 75 hp, and the total weight of the completed boat with the motor exceeds 200 kg.
The weight of the boat is determined not by passport data, but by weighing it together with the motor and the complete set of necessary equipment.
If the boat's engine power exceeds 75 hp, then it falls outside the category of small boat and is subject to the supervision of the river or sea register.
Ship's ticket: general information
A ship's ticket is a document that confirms that a person is the owner of a given vessel.
This document states:
- owner information
- technical inspection data
- boat characteristics
Let's celebrate! It is issued only after registration with GIMS. This document gives the right to fly the flag of the Russian Federation. A photocopy of the ship's ticket must be on board. After the ticket, you need to register your license.
Education
Training for the right to operate a boat can be completed at an educational institution that has a special license. Such institutions are available in all administrative centers where there are GIMS bodies.
The cost of training is in the range of 7000-8000 rubles. The training course includes theoretical and practical parts. Practical exercises are possible only during the navigation period. Based on the results of training at the educational institution, an internal exam is passed and a document is issued on completion of the course of study.
Responsibility for the lack of necessary documents
If a person did not have an identification document, then the GIMS inspector has every right to call the police to further clarify the identity.
If you do not have documents for the ship with you or at all, fines can vary from one hundred to one thousand rubles. The fine is issued by the GIMS employee when issuing the fine. Payment is made using a receipt, and definitely not in person to the inspection employee.
As you can see from the above material, obtaining documents for navigation is not a very easy task. But there’s nothing too heavy there either.
Collecting a package of documents is quite accessible and fast.
Taking exams can be intimidating, but you shouldn't be too scared. You just need to take preparation and passing the exam seriously.
When all the documents are finalized, new fishing opportunities open up. It becomes even more interesting, more exciting and plus the size of the catch increases.
Let's obey the law! Easy to obtain documents and excellent fishing.
Let's celebrate! And the main thing you need to remember is that it’s better to get everything legal right away than to run from GIMS later! Good luck!
Necessary documents for passing the exam at GIMS
To take the exam at GIMS, a citizen who wishes to obtain a license provides with the application:
- identification document (passport, etc.);
- a document confirming the citizen’s fitness to operate a small boat (medical certificate);
- documents on existing qualifications or training (document on training, existing rights, etc.);
- two color matte photographs measuring 30x40 mm, without corners;
- receipt for payment of state duty.
Documents for boat registration
For registration, the following package of documents is required:
- a check or an agreement for the purchase and sale of a watercraft, or an agreement for the transfer of the asset as a gift
- TIN
- technical passport(s) for the boat and motor (if available)
- passport, boat owner
- statement
- receipt confirming payment of state duty
- passport confirming passing a technical inspection
There is only one collection of documents; registration takes place in several stages:
- In the GIMS itself (or you can call an inspector from there), an external inspection takes place on the shore and tests on the water of the vessel and on this basis a report is drawn up.
- In case of successful inspection, the package of documents is sent to the same GIMS
- After registration, a ship ticket is issued, the period for issuing it is from one to three weeks.
- After receiving the ticket, side numbers are applied to the boat.
After successfully completed registration, do not forget about undergoing a technical inspection once every five years!
Registration is available to any citizen of the Russian Federation who has reached the age of sixteen.
Scheme for registration of rights to a boat in GIMS
After purchasing a boat, the ship owner must:
conduct an initial inspection of the boat (vessel), where the numbers of the boat and engine are compared with the passports for the boat and the engine;- submit the documents necessary for registering the boat to the State Inspectorate for Inspectorate;
- receive a ship's ticket;
- equip the boat with the necessary supplies, which are recorded in the ship's ticket;
- undergo a technical inspection of the boat.
To register a boat, the shipowner provides the following documents to GIMS:
- an application card of the established form (usually filled out electronically by GIMS employees after submitting all documents);
- identity document (+copy);
- TIN (copy);
- originals and copies of documents confirming the legality of the purchase of a boat (vessel) and engines (outboard motors);
- copies and originals of technical passports for the boat (vessel), engines or outboard motors;
- documents confirming payment of the fee for registration of the boat (vessel) and the issuance of a ship ticket.
After going through the necessary procedures to obtain the right to operate a boat, and registering the boat with GIMS, you can thoroughly enjoy your vacation on the water.
Where can I register a watercraft?
The watercraft must be registered at the place of residence of the intended owner in the GIMS. Submission of documents for registration must be carried out within ten days from the date of purchase of the vessel.
First you need to make sure that the boat is safe. If, before registration, the boat encountered conditions in which breakdowns occurred, you must provide the GIMS with a certificate stating that the breakdowns have been eliminated and the boat can be considered reliable and ready for launching. After this, you need to collect a package of documents to submit to the inspection.
