Fully laden, the vessels drew 5.35 metres (17.6 ft) of water and had a displacement of 2,935 tonnes (2,889 long tons).

Their three 1,800-horsepower (1,300 kW) 10-cylinder 13D100 two-stroke opposed-piston diesel engines were coupled to generators that powered electric propulsion motors driving two propellers in the stern and a third one in the bow.

Project 97A icebreakers were capable of breaking 70 to 75 centimetres (28 to 30 in) thick snow-covered ice at very slow but continuous speed.

[3] The third of twelve Project 97A icebreakers was laid down at Admiralty Shipyard in Leningrad on 10 February 1962, launched on 11 August 1962, and delivered to the Sakhalin Shipping Company on 25 December 1962.

[3] Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Khariton Laptev passed over to the successor state, Russia.