This class of ships, Project 1563, was developed at the Central Design Bureau Chernomorsudoproekt (CDB ChSP) in Nikolayev.

[1][2] The fundamental reform of the entire system including the political changes began in January 1987, when the perestroyka (the restructuring) of the CPSU Central Committee plenum was announced a new state ideology.

The ship Sarny was loaded in a Black Sea Ukrainian port and part of crew had to be changed before sailing.

During the loading part of crew visited the Ho Chi Minh City with excursion program.

The call in Singapore could give the crew an extra income as per formula: to by in foreign country and to trade in the USSR.

The third deck officer supposed that the check took place because he sometimes discussed Perestroyka among his own family at home only, mostly in front of the TV set, and disagreed with the politics of Mikhail Gorbachev.

Anyhow the customs officers though find out and the third deck officer wanted to stop any discussion about politics in future, but somebody managed by his mined and during the next vacation on shore he forgot about the check on board ship and again sometimes discussed about perestroyka among his own family at home only, mostly in front of the TV set.

[10] On December 19, 1989, the Iranian tanker Khark 5 bound for refineries in Northern Europe exploded and caught fire approximately 400 miles north of the Canary Islands.