Planning for drastic changes in Lithuanian inland waters

"Inland waterway vehicles with an engine power up to 19 kW (25 hp) are expected to be able to operate without a pilot's license. There will also be no need to register outboard engines with a power not exceeding 19 kW (25 hp).

 

    The current procedure for registering ships will be strengthened. At present, sport and pleasure craft (pedal boats, boats, sailing yachts up to 6 m, tourist rafts up to 500 kg) did not have to be registered in the Inland Vessel Register, even if they are used for commercial purposes. Following an amendment to the Code, things that are not currently subject to registration will have to be registered if they are used for commercial purposes. Also, with the exception of 3-year exemptions for new vessels, all commercial watercraft will have to be inspected annually.

 

    Under the current arrangements, inland waterway transport specialists and motorboat pilots have been trained by accredited training institutes, companies or organizations. The persons ready to operate the ships were examined by the Lithuanian Transport Safety Administration. The aptitude test was not regulated, but was actually carried out by public authorities.  The practical knowledge test will be transferred to accredited educational institutions, companies or organizations. This area will become commercial and will probably cost a lot because it is expensive to maintain a ship and not so many who want to become pilots. It was emphasized that the adoption of such a provision follows the model already practiced in aviation. It is too expensive for public authorities to maintain the aircraft or ships needed for the practical test, which is why a commercial examination model is chosen.

 

    Another important innovation is that the Lithuanian Transport Safety Administration will hand over technical inspections of ships to certified legal entities and organizations. This is due to the fact that the state fee for technical inspections does not cover the costs, the activity is partly financed from the state budget. It turns out that inspections of ships, when handed over to certified specialists, are likely to become more expensive and quite significant in the future. "

Boating around the lakes will be as expensive as piloting an airplane, although the risk of sailing is much much lower.