During the Government session chaired by the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov on the measures taken to ensure safety on the country's water bodies, the Minister of Transport of Kazakhstan Marat Karabaev made a report.

According to the Minister, in Kazakhstan there are more than 5 thousand rivers, lakes and other bodies of water where small vessels are operated. 

To date, the country has registered more than 19 thousand units of small vessels. The regions where the largest number of such vessels are registered are Atyrau and East Kazakhstan regions, Almaty city, Almaty, Pavlodar, Kyzylorda, Mangystau and Karaganda regions. 

"In the navigation of last year, 4146 inspections of small vessels were carried out, 857 administrative offences were revealed. This year, as of June 10, 311 small vessels were inspected and 98 administrative offences were revealed. According to the forecast, we plan to conduct at least 4,300 inspections," Karabayev reported.

According to him, the main types of violations on small vessels are as follows:

• operation of vessels without personal life-saving equipment;
• throwing rubbish and other objects overboard;
• operation of a small-sized vessel by a person not authorised to operate the vessel;
• operation of vessels not registered in accordance with the established procedure;  
• non-compliance by boaters with the requirements of navigation signs. 

As noted by Karabayev, in the period from 2020 to 2023, the Ministry purchased 11 service small vessels of Kazakhstani production, including 4 units purchased last year. The existing need is another 5 units. In this regard, the Ministry of Finance in the formation of the budget 2025-2027 years made appropriate proposals.

The Minister also noted that according to the current legislation, storage of small vessels detained during transport control should be carried out at special sites or car parks created by decision of local executive bodies. 

"Given the virtual absence of such car parks, we propose Akimats to solve the issue of their creation directly on the shores of water bodies on the basis of existing recreation areas, i.e. objects that are not communal property," Karabayev said. 

For this purpose, according to him, the relevant amendments to the legislation within the framework of the bill "On introducing amendments and additions to some legislative acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the development of the capital and cities of republican importance" have been prepared. 

"After the adoption of this bill the most important problems will find a final solution," Karabayev said.

#Government session