Distance from other boats on the water is one of the most critical moments for any hydraulic motor, and even experienced boaters sometimes make mistakes that lead to collisions, damage to property or, worse, injuries to people. More than 30% of accidents on small craft It's because of the wrong divergence, and it's not the weather that's the fault, it's the banal ignorance. sailing-law (MPSS-72) and elementary maneuvering techniques.

In this article, we will examine not only theoretical norms, but also the practicalityThese are things that are rarely mentioned in textbooks, like how to behave when you encounter a large boat, why you can't turn abruptly in front of a hovercraft, or how to diverge properly from a boat that's going. against the current on a narrow river with a strong press to the shoreWe will pay special attention to the typical mistakes of beginners - from ignoring sound signals to incorrectly estimating distance in fog.

The material will be useful to the owners PVC, aluminum and metal boats (both motor and oar), as well as sailors and fishermen, all recommendations are in accordance with the current GIMS regulations of 2026 and international standards. COLREGs (Convention for the Prevention of Collisions at Sea)

Basic rules of divergence between WFPSS-72 and GIMS

In Russia, the divergence of small-sized vessels is regulated by two key documents:

  • 📜 MPPSS-72 (International Rules for Preventing Collisions at Sea) – applies to all bodies of water, including inland water bodies.
  • 📄 Rules of navigation on the inland waterways of the Russian Federation (approved by the Order of the Ministry of Transport No. 231 of 2022) – operate on rivers, lakes and reservoirs.

The main principle of divergence is formulated simply: a boat which sees another boat from starboard side shall give wayBut in practice, it's more complicated, and you have to consider:

  • 🚤 Type of vessel (Motor boat, sailboat, hovercraft, large boat).
  • 🌊 Conditions of navigation (current, wind, visibility).
  • 📡 Signal availability (sound, light).
  • 🗺️ Pond type (river, lake, sea, canal).

For example, on narrow-river priority is given to a boat flow-back It's more difficult to maneuver, so the oncoming boat must move to the shore in advance. lake-lake The right hand rule applies: if the other boat is on the right, you must give in.

📊 How often do you encounter a breach of the rules of discrepancy?
Constantly.
Sometimes.
Rarely.
Never noticed.

Distinction signals: light and sound

Most of the accidents on the water occur because of the boats. no signal According to WFPSS-72, small-scale vessels are required to use:

Light signals (at night or in fog)

  • 🟢 Green fire (right side) indicates that the boat is moving forward.
  • 🔴 Red fire. (left side) - signals movement.
  • ⚪ White fire. The stern is visible from behind, indicating the direction of movement.
  • 🟡 Yellow flashing fire Used by fishing vessels when fishing nets.

Sound signals (day and night)

Situation Signal. Meaning
Turn right 🔊 One short sound (·) "I'm turning right."
Turn left 🔊 Two short sounds (··) "I'm turning left."
Move back. 🔊 Three short sounds (···) "I'm backing up."
Fog or poor visibility 🔊 One long sound (-) every 2 minutes "Watch out, there's a boat!"
Risk of collision 🔊 Five short sounds (·····) "I don't understand your actions!"

⚠️ Attention: If you hear me. five short signals From another boat, it means the captain doesn't understand your maneuvers.

Many PVC boat owners ignore the sound signals, relying on "maybe." That's a gross mistake: according to GIMS statistics, 60% of collisions in fog It's because there's no audible warning, and even if you don't have a beep, use it. whistle or horn - they save lives.

3. Technique of divergence under different conditions

The rules of divergence depend on pond-like and weatherLet's look at the most common scenarios.

🌊 On the big water (lake, sea, reservoir)

  • 🛥️ Counter divergence: both boats turn right-hand (clockwise).
  • 🔄 Overtaking: passer two-length (------) and bypass left-hand.
  • ⚓ Standing boat: If the boat is anchored, it must show ball day fire at night.

🏞️ On the river (with the current)

  • 🚣 Against the current: priority: the oncoming boat must move to the shore.
  • 💨 Downstream: You must give way and stop if necessary.
  • 🌪️ On the corner: boat nearer-shore, has an advantage.

🌫️ In the fog or at night

With visibility less than 1 km:

  1. Reduce your speed to minimally controlled.
  2. Turn it on. full-light (If the boat is not equipped with electrical equipment, use a flashlight.)
  3. Give me the beep. every 2 minutes (one long sound).
  4. Avoid. sharp-turn The other boat may not have time to react.

Reduce speed to minimum |

Turn on all lights (even during the day)|

Beep every 2 minutes |

Stay to the right of the fairway |

Avoiding maneuvers without extreme necessity

⚠️ Attention: Nana river-flow (e.g. Volga, Yenisei) Never attempt to part with a large boat (boat, barge) 500 meters A wave of propellers could overturn a small boat!

4. Typical Beginner Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)

Even experienced boaters sometimes make mistakes, but beginners systematically Here are the most dangerous rules.

🚫 Mistake 1: Ignoring the “Right Hand Rule”

Many people think that if there is another boat, more or fasterIt has to be given up forever. That's wrong. According to MPPSS-72, priority is given. courtshipAnd if the boat on the right is the size of the boat, You must give in.Even if it's a fishing "smother" on oars.

🚫 Mistake 2: Sharp turns in front of the oncoming boat

At high speed, especially on the outboard type Yamaha or Mercury) a sudden turn may result in:

  • 💥 Overturning It's because of centrifugal force.
  • 🔄 Loss of control (especially on the wave).
  • 🚤 CollisionIf the other boat does not have time to react.

✅ Right: Reduce your speed in advance and turn. smoothly, at an angle of 30-45°. Use neutral at maneuver.

🚫 Mistake 3: Not counting wind and current

For example, if you're cruising flowingAnd the oncoming boat -- againstYou're speeding faster relative to water. underestimate the speed of convergence And it's too late to start maneuvering.

What if the other boat doesn’t respond to the signals?

If the oncoming boat ignores your audible/light signals:

1. Drop the gas abruptly and stop.

2. Pour it. five short signals (······) is a sign of misunderstanding.

3 If the boat continues to move - off course at right angles (To the right or left, but not back!)

4. write down the boat number (if any) and inform the GIMS by phone 112 (from mobile) or 8-800-100-11-00 (MERCOM hotline).

⚠️ Attention: Nana reservoir (for example, Rybinskoe, Kuibyshevskoe) are often found hovercraftThey're maneuvering outside the box. Don't try to cross their courseBetter get out of the way beforehand.

5. Features of discrepancies for different types of boats

The rules of divergence depend not only on the situation, but also on the boat-likeLet's look at the key nuances:

🛶 Boats on oars and kayaks

  • 🚣 Advantage: Give in. motorboat (GIMS rules)
  • 🔦 Lights: At night, mandatory. white-lanternSeen from all sides.
  • 📢 Signals: Instead of the beep, use it. whistle.

🛥️ Motor boats (PVC, aluminum, fiberglass)

  • 🔧 Maneuverability: Boats from outboard (for example, Tohatsu or Honda) turn worse than c stationary.
  • 🌪️ Wave: At speed >20 km/h, they are created quilt - stay away from the shore.
  • ⚡ Electronics: Use it. sounder to control the depth when diverged in shallow water.

⛵ Sailing vessels

  • 🏄 Priority: Sailboat coming windilyIt has an advantage over the motorboat.
  • 🌬️ Drift: Please note that the boat can blow away - keep your distance.
  • 🔴 Lights: You should be visible at night. red and green side lights + white aft.
💡

If you see a sailboat that's coming baydewind (At a sharp angle to the wind), don't cross it in the front. Better go around the back, so you don't make it change the galley.

🚢 Large vessels (boats, barges, tankers)

  • 🚨 Danger: They They cannot maneuver quickly - keep at a distance of >500 m.
  • 🌊 Wave: At a speed of >10 knots create wavelength - dangerous for PVC boats.
  • 📡 Communication: On the canals. 16 PM (156.8 MHz) can be adjusted.

Disparity in emergency situations

Sometimes you have to break the rules to avoid a traffic accident. case-fix:

🆘 The other boat is coming straight at you and not maneuvering.

  1. Serve. five short signals (·····).
  2. Sharply. gass and stop.
  3. If collision is inevitable, jump overboard (if PVC boat) or Take cover in the middle (if the boat is hard)

🌪️ Getting into sulk (whirlpool from passing vessel)

  • 🔄 Don't try. nose-fly - it's dangerous for PVC.
  • 🛑 Keep the engine on. neutralize and turn the boat around feed-to-wave.
  • 🏄 Use the wave to turbulence.

🚨 The collision happened - what to do?

  1. Estimate the damage: Is there any victim or fuel-leak.
  2. Give me a distress call. three-length (--------- or red-rocket.
  3. Record the data of the other boat: number, model, number of people.
  4. Contact GIMS by phone 112.
💡

In an emergency, the key is keep aliveIf you see that collision is inevitable, you better leave (Wearing a life jacket!) than risking your health.

Fines for breach of the rules of divergence

GIMS strictly enforces the rules of navigation, and for violations of discrepancies, the following are provided:

Violation Fine (2026) Additional measures
Failure to provide an advantage 1 000 — 1 500 ₽ Warning
Absence of light/sound signals 1 500 — 2 000 ₽ Checking the boat for suitability
Captain's fault in collision 2 000 — 5 000 ₽ Disqualification for 6-12 months
Drunken management 10 000 — 20 000 ₽ Deprivation of rights for 1-2 years
Refusal to provide assistance to victims Up to 100,000 Criminal liability (Article 125 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation)

⚠️ Attention: If you fled the scene, it qualifies as "leaving in danger" (Article 125 of the Criminal Code) and is punished imprisonment for up to 1 year.

In addition to fines, the perpetrator of the collision is obliged to compensate The average cost of repairing a PVC boat after an accident. 15 000–50 000 ₽And aluminum. 30 000–100 000 ₽.

FAQ: Frequent questions about boat divergence

❓ Can I overtake the boat on the right?

✅ Yes, but only if you signal ahead (two long sounds) and make sure that the overtaker is not maneuvering. In practice, overtaking on the right is dangerous - it is better to always bypass. left.

❓ Who should give in: a boat with an engine or on paddles?

✅ According to GIMS rules, motor-craft Except for a fun boat or kayak, if you're a fun boat. obstruct (For example, standing in the middle of the fairway).

❓ How to separate from the boat on an air cushion?

✅ Stay as far as possible.Hovercraft (e.g., hovercraft) "Heevous." or "Scat") maneuver outside the box and may change course abruptly. stop.

❓ What if the boat doesn’t turn on the lights at night?

✅ Reduce the speed to a minimum and serve sound-sign (one long sound every 2 minutes) If the boat doesn't respond, lean to the right And record the violation on video (useful for GIMS).

❓ Should we give way to fishing boats?

✅ Yeah, if they are. fishing (Standing nets, trawling) The fishing vessel must show flashing-fire or two cones apexed together (daytime).