Water camps and water touring

PERSONAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF BOATING
It is a very important aspect of boating that persons who are of age of legal maturity are the people responsible. This is why the boater is to keep the rules of water traffic.
The tour leader (a representative of an organization, a coach etc.) is responsible for the behaviour of minors and children.
Each person is the driver of his or her boat if he/she is steering it.
A person is legally allowed to drive a boat or an unregistered water sport equipment if
He/she turned 14 years old. In case of engine driven boats- turned 17.
Can swim,
Is an experienced driver
Is aware of the regulations, and the characteristics of the given area.
If there are several people in the boat or in the unregistered water sport equipment, before departure a person needs to be chosen as driver who has turned 16, or, in case of engine-driven boats 17 and who complies with points b-d of the general regulations. .
A member of a water sport club who is older than 14, can swim and drive a boat (complies with the regulations detailed earlier) is allowed to drive a boat under the guidance of a coach. Rescue equipment and rescue boat should be made available. ( It is usually a small machine boat accompanying smaller boats with the aim of teaching, training, competing or assisting with some water sport event).
The coach has to make it sure
To have a clear view of all sportspeople at all times
In order to help he/she needs a max. of 2 minutes.

WATER TRAFFIC RULES FOR WATER TOUR LEADERS
An organized tour with the participation of more than 10 boats is allowed to take place if there is a certified water tour leader available.
The water tour leader is obliged to report the name of the leader the date of departure and the itinerary to the competent water police organs.
The tasks of the water tour leader are similar to those of a coach.
Guidance and supervision,
Use of rescue equipment
Licence for rescue boat or small accompanying boat ( boat driving license, boat service documentation )
The water tour leader has to make it sure
To have a clear view of all sportspeople at all times
In order to help he/she needs a max. of 2 minutes.
The use of an accompanying boat is acceptable during water tours but all the previously detailed regulations need to be kept.
The vehicle of the tour leader is to be made identifiable with a ’U’ code flag The size of the side of the flag is a min. 0.3 m and it can be substituted with a sign of the same appearance.
The water tour leader is allowed to give orders to the participants as to their behaviour. Participants are obliged to obey.

GENERAL REGULATIONS
Water tours cannot be conducted in case of limited visibility conditions. Limited visibility conditions prevail if visibility is less than 1000 m (due to fog, vapour, snowfall, heavy rain or other reasons).
Darkness is also a factor if visibility is less than 1000 m.
VIII.3.1. Suitability for driving water vehicles:
A person is allowed to drive or driving may be given over to a person who
Is not under the influence of drugs and his/her body does not show any traces of alcohol, or other substance (drug, medicine or their combination).
Does not show signs of tiredness and exhaustion.
A water vehicle is to be driven considering weather, traffic and waterway conditions.

RULES OF WATER TRANSPORT AND DRIVING SMALL BOATS
When using kayaks, canoes and rowboats, the rules of water transport need to be considered.
Departing from riverside or from a harbour with a boat, small ship or water sport equipment, or turn around with them is possible only if the maneuvre does not disturb other vehicles and does not endanger persons who are in the water.
When boats cross each other’s way the priority goes to the one which is coming from the right.
When two vehicles meet both of them need to keep to the right and so their left sides meet.
If two boats meet (one of them is a sailing boat) the non-sailing boat is obliged to go out of the way of the sailing boat.
It is forbidden to cross with a boat (except for the boat belonging to a ship) ),
The route of a bigger ship at a distance of shorter than 1,000 m.
The route of a fast ship equipped with two blinking yellow lights (1000x120 times per minute) at a distance of shorter than 1500 metres.
It is also forbidden to approach the vehicles detailed in points a) and b) by 60 m from behind and 30 m from the side, unless the size of the waterway makes it a realistic condition.
It is forbidden to be under ropes, jambs and other anchoring devices which can be found between an anchored floating structure and the riverside and approach the rope by 50 m.

NO SWIMMING
In waterways;
In the 100-m area in the vicinity of buoys, big ships and floating structures.
In the 300-m vicinity of river dams, bridges, hydroelectric stations, waterworks and ferry crossing area.
In the 100-m vicinity of harbours, floating structures, boat bridges, anchored vehicles, water sport sites, airports on water.
In waters which are unhealthy.
Except for the designated swimming areas in frontier waters and in free waters in downtown areas.
At night and in times of poor visibility, with the exception of the areas where the water surface is well-lit and in shallow waters.
In areas with NO swimming sign.

SAFETY REGULATIONS OF BOATS AND SMALL SHIPS
Safety distance: the shortest distance between the water-free side and the upper edge of the tail of the ship and the actual immersion.
These are the rules for ships and boats that need to be kept in water traffic.
If the shortest safety distance cannot be kept, all the people in the boat have to wear life jackets.

THE USE OF BOATS AND WATER SPORTS EQUIPMENT
If a boat moves, the persons in it – except for the person who is grappling or rowing standing – are not allowed to stand.
Before boarding the boat the leader is to make it sure that every person can swim , and they are to sign a statement concerning this issue. He is also to find out if the safety equipment is in place and in good condition for use.
Any person in a boat who cannot swim or who is under 14 is obliged to wear a life jacket all the time.
The coach of the water sport club or the youth leader of the youth organization is responsible for the safety of the young children, their behaviour and the observance of the rules.
Going by rowboat is allowed in the vicinity of riverbanks only, avoiding waterways, in harbours in areas, which are especially designated for this purpose, while driving and teaching driving motorboats is only allowed in closed designated areas. Before departing, water, which endangers the stability of the boat, has to be removed from inside the vehicles.

SAFETY REGULATIONS OF FERRIES
Cable ferries and the cables/ropes are forbidden to approach within 50 m.
It is also forbidden to go under ferry cables/ropes. The tour leader is to warn the ferry staff of the approaching boat/ship and of the necessity of lowering the rope.
The tightened rope has to be signalled by a blinking yellow light on the side of the ferry which is the nearest to the waterway. The lowered rope is signalled by a white flag on a flagpost tilted at 45 grade, at night it is signalled by white light.

USE OF OBLIGATORY EQUIPMENT
When using kayaks, canoes, keelboats, skiffs, double and triple boats, or small boats with their length less than 2.5 m, the following safety equipment needs to be in the vehicle.
Life jackets – depending on the number of travellers
Oar: 1 piece
Sponge or bucket with the volume of at least 1 litre.
1 chain or rope which can be used for fastening the boat. – 5 fm.
Items of the safety equipment of the accompanying ship are detailed in the list of equipment which is to be found among the shipping documents.

WATER TRAFFIC SIGNS
Turning point If you see this sign, be very attentive. This is an area where big ships turn round. Small boats can be obstacles.
No turn

Restricted pass, or width of waterway (in metres) Restricted pass, or width of waterway (in metres)
One way route This rule has to be kept by water tourists as well.

Special caution It signals danger.
Stop at 1000 m

Damming plant It can be approached at a distance marked on the board. (e.g. 300 m)
No passing
It is a very important board.
It can be found above pontoon bridges