"It is impossible to say exactly how many small boats there are in Russia " Yury Vorobyov said at a congress of ministry and State Small Boat Inspection (SSBI) regional heads in St. Petersburg.
Some estimates put the number at about 900,000.
The official said the system would be set up under a three-year program for the technical modernization of the SSBI, which is due to be launched next year and envisions the purchase of new vehicles and waterborne craft for the inspection and the introduction of navigation systems.
The SSBI is in charge of the state and technical monitoring of small boats and their bases as well as water safety. Regional SSBI departments were established in the 89 constituent members of the Russian Federation after the inspection came under the auspices of the Ministry of Emergency Situations in 2003, more than doubling the number of inspectors.
According to the Russian State Statistics Service, 12,279 people have been killed in water accidents so far this year, 3.5% (445 people) less than in the same period last year.
