The legality of small-scale vessels (EMERCOM) remains one of the hottest issues among water engines, as the law has undergone a number of changes that have confused many owners. There used to be a clear distinction in terms of engine power of 5 horsepower, but modern regulations have shifted the focus to the total weight of the equipped vessel.
The confusion arises from the fact that the term “boating license” in common use combines several legal concepts: registration of a boat, the presence of a boat’s ticket and the qualification of a boatmaster. Certificate of management Not always necessary, but ignoring the rules can lead to serious fines and delays on the boat at the dock, and in this article we will discuss in detail what parameters of your boat require a certificate, how to calculate the mass and what to do if the specifications are on the verge of the allowed values.
It is important to understand that the legislation of the Russian Federation in this area is quite strict and does not tolerate dual interpretations during inspections on water. the Inspector will rely on the technical data sheet of the product and the data stamped on the badge, and not on your assurances that the engine “seems to be weaker.” Proper preparation of documents This is not bureaucracy, but a guarantee that your access to the water will not end with protocol and evacuation of equipment.
Key parameters: boat weight and engine power
The central point in determining the need to obtain a license is the concept of “small craft”. According to the current Code of Administrative Offences and orders of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, exemption from registration and, as a result, from the mandatory availability of a boatmaster’s license depends on two figures: engine power and weight of the boat in service. The border of exemption from rights passes on the weight of 200 kg and engine power up to 8 kW inclusive.
Many people mistakenly believe that it is enough to buy a motor of less than 10 horsepower (about 8 kW) to consider yourself free from bureaucracy. This is a dangerous misconception. If your inflatable boat or boat weighs more than 200 kg in running order, even with a motor of 5 hp you can get a car. rights will be required The mass is calculated as the weight of the hull itself with fixed equipment installed.
The weight of the hull, the engine installed (if stationary), the fuel in the tanks and the minimum supply of equipment are summed up to calculate the mass of the curbed vessel. In the case of outboard motors, which are often removed for transportation, the weight of the engine is usually not taken into account in the weight of the vessel at registration, but this nuance is better clarified in a specific section of the GIMS, since practice may vary. 200 kgIf you do not want to receive a certificate.
⚠️ Attention: Don't try to trick the inspector into saying that the boat weighs less than the technical data sheet, that when weighing on the dock or in the port, it uses official documentation, not household scales. If the passport weighs 210 kg, then the rights of category "M" can not be avoided.
It is also worth remembering the difference between kilowatts and horsepower. Legislation operates in kilowatts, while motor manufacturers more often specify hp The conversion factor is about 1 kW = 1.36 hp So the limit of 8 kW is about 10.88 hp That is why 9.9 hp motors often deforest to 9.6 or 5 hp to fit into the allowed norms without obtaining rights.
Categories of GIMS certificates for motor boats
If your parameters exceed the limits allowed for free navigation, you must pass the training and pass the exam at the GIMS. The boatmaster's certificate is a document confirming your qualifications. To operate a motor boat that is not intended for commercial transport and is not a pleasure craft, a certificate with the appropriate category is required.
The main category for owners of private inflatable and aluminum boats is the category "M."It gives the right to operate small motorized vessels used for non-commercial purposes, and this category requires a theoretical course, which teaches the rules of the road on the water, the design of the vessel and the basics of safety, as well as the practical part.
There are other categories that you might need depending on your type of equipment, such as if you plan to operate a jet ski, you'll need a separate category "A." To operate sailing vessels, even small ones, you need a category "B", although in practice sailboats rarely fall into the category "up to 200 kg" without sailing. It is important to understand that the category "M" does not give you the right to operate a jet ski or sailboat.
- 🚤 Category “M” motor boats, boats used for personal purposes, weighing more than 200 kg or with an engine more powerful than 8 kW.
- 🛥️ Category “G” Small vessels used for commercial purposes (for work, rental, transportation of passengers for a fee).
- 🏍️ Category “A” Motor vehicles, including hydrocycles (water motorcycles), regardless of their power.
- ⛵ Category “B” sailing vessels used for non-commercial purposes.
Training usually takes from two weeks to a month depending on the training center, and after passing the exam, you get a certificate that you must carry with you during each voyage, along with the documents on the boat. 10 years.After that, it must be extended, often without re-taking exams, but with the passage of a medical examination.
How much does it cost to get a license?
The cost consists of tuition fees (ranging from 5,000 to 15,000 rubles depending on the region and the center), state fees for issuing a certificate (1,300 rubles) and passing a medical commission (about 2,000 rubles).
Procedure for registration of small vessel
Boat registration and management rights are two parallel but different processes. Even if you have M rights, the boat itself must be registered in the GIMS register of small boats if it is registered. As we have previously found, vessels weighing more than 200 kg (or with a motor more powerful than 8 kW if the weight is less, but here is the nuance: now the main thing is to look at the mass, but the presence of an engine over 8 kW on an unregistered boat can also raise questions if the weight is close to the limit).
To pass the registration procedure, the owner must collect a package of documents, which includes a passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation, a document confirming the ownership (purchase agreement, gift), a technical data sheet for the boat and the engine (if it is purchased separately and requires accounting), as well as a receipt for payment of the state duty, and you will also need to undergo a inspection of the vessel, during which the inspector will check the presence of markings and compliance with the specifications declared.
After successful registration, you receive a boat's ticket and registration number, which must be printed on the boat, the number is painted in contrast paint, the height of the letters and numbers must be at least 15 cm This requirement is strictly controlled, and the absence of a number or its indiscriminateness can be grounds for a fine.
☑️ Documents for boat registration
It is important to note that since 2017, the procedure has been simplified for PVC boats and other non-self-propelled vessels (although the boat is self-propelled), but the basic requirements for security and documents have remained the same. If you bought the boat from hand, be sure to check whether it is deregistered by the previous owner, otherwise you will not be able to register.
Fines for management without a license and violation of rules
Ignoring the requirements of the law in the field of small boats is fraught with financial losses. Fines for driving a boat without a license or registration are significant and regularly indexed. GIMS inspectors conduct raids not only on holidays, but also on regular weekends, especially in popular fishing and recreational places.
The most common violation is the control of the boat by a person who does not have a boatmaster's license. According to part 2 of article 11.7 of the administrative code of the Russian Federation, this entails the imposition of a fine in the amount of 2,000 to 4,000 rublesIf it turns out that the person has no rights at all (he never received them), the fine may be higher, and the boat is sent to the parking lot until the circumstances are clarified.
Failure to register a boat or to prove ownership is also punishable by a fine, and the table below shows the main types of violations and the size of the sanctions that are relevant for the current period.
| Violation | Article of the Administrative Code of the Russian Federation | The amount of the fine (ruble) |
|---|---|---|
| Management without a license (certificates) | 11.7 part 2. | 2000 – 4000 |
| Management of an unregistered vessel | 11.7 p.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1 | 1000 – 2000 |
| Violation of the rules of navigation (SDA on water) | 11.6 p.1.1.1.1 | 500 – 1000 |
| Infringed marking | 11.7 p.3.3 | 1000 – 2000 |
The inspector has the right to detain the vessel and send it to a specialized parking lot in case the violation creates a security threat or if the driver cannot confirm his identity and ownership.
⚠️ Attention: Repeated violations of the rules during the year can lead to an increase in penalties, in addition, driving while intoxicated on a boat is equivalent to driving a car and threatens not only a huge fine (30 000 rubles), but also deprivation of the rights to drive all vehicles.
Technical requirements for safety on water
The availability of rights and registration is only a legal issue. Water safety dictates its requirements for the technical equipment of the boat. Even if your boat does not formally require a license (weight up to 200 kg and engine up to 8 kW), GIMS strongly recommends, and in some cases requires, a certain set of equipment.
The safety vests are primarily safety vests, the number of life-saving appliances must be proportional to the number of people on board, the absence of a vest on a passenger or driver is a direct violation of safety rules, for which there is also a fine, the vests must be certified and fit for size.
In addition, the boat must be equipped with an anchor with a sufficient length of cable, a scoop for draining water, a lifeline and, preferably, a first aid kit. For motorboats, it is critical to have a proper engine and fuel system. Gasoline leaks into the hold are one of the common causes of fires on the water.
Always carry a waterproof bag with documents (boat registration certificate, license, passport) and a charged phone in a sealed bag, which will help you quickly resolve questions with the inspector or call for help in an emergency.
Special attention should be paid to the condition of the transom of the boat. If you use a powerful motor at the limit of permissible power for this model of boat, make sure that the transom withstands the loads. Breaking the transom at full speed can lead to loss of control and tipping of the vessel, which is a direct threat to life.
Frequent questions and exceptions to the rule
There are many situations in the practice of boating interaction with supervisory authorities that require individual consideration, often with questions from owners of electric motors, boats with factory markings that are different from reality, or those who use boats for rental purposes.
For example, if you rent a boat in a recreational facility, you may not need a license if the base issues a boat within the base water area and instructs you, but going out into the open water even on a rental vessel requires a license. There are also exceptions for sports vessels during competitions, but they require a special document from the organizers to apply.
Another nuance is homemade boats, which are extremely difficult to register as a self-built boat, because it requires proof of safety of design, and often such boats are not subject to registration at all, which automatically prohibits the installation of a motor on them more powerful than 8 kW, since without registration any engine will be considered redundant for an unregistered vessel.
- 🔍 Electric motors: If the electric motor is more powerful than 8 kW (about 11 hp), you need a license.
- 🏗️ Self-builder: It requires a complex certification procedure, without which operation with the motor is prohibited.
- 🗺️ Water area: The rules may vary depending on the region and the status of the body of water (navigable or not).
Don't rely on "maybe" or advice from people in the neighborhood, the laws are the same for the whole country, but the practice can be local, and the best way to protect yourself is to have a complete package of documents or to clearly know the parameters of your vessel, allowing you to do without them.
The main conclusion: if the weight of your boat with equipment exceeds 200 kg or the engine power is above 8 kW (10.88 hp), the presence of a boatmaster's license of category "M" and registration of the vessel are mandatory.
Do I need a 5-hp boat license?
The license is not required only if the weight of the boat (hull + equipment) does not exceed 200 kg. If the boat is heavy (for example, a large aluminum boat), then the rights will be required even with such a weak engine.
Where can I get a boat license?
Training and examinations are held in specialized centers licensed by the Ministry of Emergency Situations. After training, a theoretical and practical exam is taken directly in the inspection.
What happens if you lose your boat license?
You need to apply to the GIMS with a request for a duplicate. Before receiving the document, you can not control the vessel - this is equivalent to driving without a license and threatens with a fine.
Do I need to register a 150 kg inflatable boat?
Not if its weight does not exceed 200 kg and the power of the installed engine does not exceed 8 kW. In this case, neither registration nor rights are required.