General Directive on Safety Rules Regarding Water Surface Sports
Directive Year/No: 2005/1
Institution: Ministry of Culture and Tourism
Official Gazette Date: 23.05.2005
1. Introduction and General Principles
The safe conduct of water surface sports, determining the qualifications of marine vehicles used in these activities, and setting the rules to be followed by real and legal persons conducting water sports activities will be carried out within the framework of the principles determined by our Ministry and explained in the following articles, in accordance with the regulations introduced under Law No. 2634 on the Promotion of Tourism, Law No. 1618 on Travel Agencies and Travel Agencies Association, and the Regulation on Sports Activities for Tourism Purposes.
2. Rules Regarding Those Engaged in Water Surface Sports Activities
- All sporting activities performed on tourists, together with tourists, or organized for tourists by real and legal persons, either fully or partially applying the rules of one or more sports disciplines, will be considered tourism-oriented sports activities and will be subject to the relevant legislation.
- Tourism-oriented water surface sports will be carried out by enterprises that have obtained a "Tourism-Oriented Sports Activity Permit Certificate" from our Ministry, and these enterprises cannot transfer this right to others.
- Water surface sports will be conducted within areas determined and announced annually by our Ministry.
- Provincial/District Tourism Boards will not permit sporting activities that exceed the minimum and maximum vehicle capacity limits on the designated routes.
- Enterprises will prepare a written notice specifying safety rules in both Turkish and English and will post it in a place easily visible to customers.
3. Rules Regarding Areas Where Water Surface Sports Will Be Conducted
- Water surface sports activities will not be conducted in areas with heavy marine traffic, areas designated under Law No. 2565 on Military Forbidden Zones and Security Zones, or historical and natural protected sites (SİT areas) designated under Law No. 2863 on the Protection of Cultural and Natural Assets.
- Water surface sports will be conducted at least 200 meters from the shore in publicly accessible areas, beaches, and residential areas, provided that an entry-exit corridor from shore to sea is established. The Board, upon the proposal of the Port Authority, has the authority to increase or decrease this distance according to various usage characteristics of the activity area.
- The areas designated for water surface sports, including corridors, will be marked with buoys and signal flags, and it will be indicated that swimming is prohibited in these areas. The costs of buoys and marking will be borne by the operators. Procedures and principles regarding buoy marking will be determined by local Port Authorities, and information about buoy-marked areas will be provided by the Port Authority to the Coast Guard Boat and Marine Police stationed in the region.
- Individuals and institutions conducting water surface sports will operate within the allocated area without preventing the public use of the coasts and will not disturb others due to their activities.
4. Safety Measures to Be Taken in the Execution of Water Surface Sports
- Unnamed and unregistered boats without port registration will not be used or allowed in water surface sports.
- Personnel operating marine vehicles in water surface sports will have appropriate qualifications, and their qualification certificates will be reported to the Provincial/District Tourism Boards.
- Persons and organizations organizing water surface sports will keep a rescue boat on shore and at least one 6 kg fire extinguisher ready for intervention against life and property hazards.
- During activities, both customers and personnel will wear life jackets. Additionally, the rescue boat kept on shore for life and property safety will have personnel certified in first aid and rescue, sufficient first aid supplies, at least 3 distress flares, at least 3 life jackets, and 1 life buoy.
- Persons and organizations organizing water sports will obtain necessary documents such as tonnage and seaworthiness certificates for marine vehicles like jet skis, parachute boats, and speedboats from the Port Authority.
- A portable or fixed observation tower of sufficient height with binoculars and a watchman will be present in the activity area for life safety. In areas where multiple operators are active, a single observation tower covering the entire water sports area may be established.
- Water surface sports activities will not be conducted at night or when visibility is limited due to weather or sea conditions to ensure navigation and life and property safety. Furthermore, parachuting will not be performed within areas designated by Provincial/District Tourism Boards according to the geographical conditions of publicly accessible areas, beaches, residential areas, and from the shore.
- Speedboats towing water skis, bananas, parachutes, etc., will have an additional assistant besides the authorized operator (certificate holder).
- Marine vehicles used in water surface sports will not exceed a speed of 3 knots in entry-exit corridors, and users will comply with the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea during activities.
- Operators must conduct activities without causing marine pollution, take necessary precautions for this purpose, and comply with international agreements to which our country is a party regarding the protection of endangered species such as Mediterranean monk seals and sea turtles (caretta caretta).
- All significant incidents such as death, injury, or accidents occurring during water surface sports activities will be recorded in the journal book and promptly reported to the relevant authorities.
- In cases where water surface sports are performed individually without any organization, appropriate safety measures specified in Articles 3 and 4 will be taken.
Inspections
- Compliance with the above rules in water surface sports can be inspected at any time by Sports Tourism Boards, Port Authorities, Coast Guard Boat Commands, and Marine Police.
- During inspections related to enterprises conducting water surface sports;
- If it is determined that the enterprise has not obtained a "Tourism-Oriented Sports Activity Permit Certificate" from our Ministry,
- If an enterprise that has obtained the certificate has transferred its rights to others,
- If water surface activities are not conducted within the routes designated in areas determined and announced annually by our Ministry,
- During inspections related to the conduct of water surface sports, if it is found that safety measures explained in Articles 2 and 3 for life and property safety at sea are not followed, the situation will be documented with a report; legal action will be initiated according to Law No. 2634 on the Promotion of Tourism and Law No. 1618 on Travel Agencies and Travel Agencies Association and forwarded to Provincial Directorates of Culture and Tourism. Deficiencies and faults identified under Law No. 4922 on Life and Property Safety at Sea will be reported by Port Authorities and Coast Guard Command officials to the Public Prosecutor's Office for legal action.
For your information and necessary action.
Ahmet KARA
Deputy Undersecretary
On behalf of the Minister