The vessel, built at Arctech Helsinki Shipyard in Finland, utilizes the double acting ship principle to allow independent operation without icebreaker escort in ice-covered seas.

[7][8] While the Finnish shipyard was initially reluctant to confirm the contract,[9] the tanker was included in a presentation by Arctech CEO Esko Mustamäki at the Conference on the Economic Development of the Arctic in June 2016.

[6] While the final hull assembly would be carried out in Helsinki, a 167-metre (548 ft) forward section was subcontracted to Brodotrogir Shipyard in Croatia, where steel production began in February 2017.

[13] On 29 April, Yuriy Kuchiev was moved from the covered dry dock to the shipyard's outfitting pier in preparation of inclining test before leaving for the first sea trials on 6 May.

The length-to-beam ratio is slightly greater than that of other icebreaking tankers operating in the region, improving ice-going capability as well as allowing the hull to be assembled in Arctech's Panamax-sized[note 1] dry dock.

In addition, operation is allowed along the full length of the Northern Sea Route, but in heavy ice conditions icebreaker escort is required.

[6] Yuriy Kuchiev is designed to break 1.9-metre (6 ft) level ice in a continuous motion with a speed of 2 knots (3.7 km/h; 2.3 mph) in astern direction.