Of the 32 ships built in total, the single-vessel Project 97B subclass featured a longer hull, additional facilities for hydrographic surveys, increased accommodation, and a helipad.

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

[1] Vladimir Kavrayskiy was laid down at Admiralty Shipyard in Leningrad on 25 February 1969, launched on 31 October 1969, and delivered on 31 December 1969.

[1] During its service as a hydrographic survey vessel, Vladimir Kavrayskiy completed 37 expedition voyages and covered a distance of 380,000 nautical miles (700,000 km; 440,000 mi).

[3] In July 2011, Vladimir Kavrayskiy was reassigned to the detachment of support vessels of the Northern Fleet and renamed PKZ-86 in the following spring.