A hydrographic survey ship is a vessel designed to conduct hydrographic research and survey. Nautical charts are produced from this information to ensure safe navigation by military and civilian shipping. Hydrographic survey vessels also conduct surveys of the seabed and the underlying geology.

The Project 861 Moma-class hydrographic vessels has a length of 73,3 m, a width of 10,8 m and a draft of 3,8 m. The vessel has a standard displacement of 1200 tonnes and full load displacement of 1542 tonnes. It has a maximum speed of 17,3 knots, range of 8900 nmi at 11 knots and an endurance of 35 days. The vessel is equipped with two Don navigation radars, ARP-50R radio direction finder, MG-13 underwater communication station and MG-26 Khosta underwater communication station. The vessel is furnished with advanced meteorological and chemical-hydrographical equipment and one hydrographic survey boat. The vessel is powered by two 1800 hp Zgoda-Sulzer 6TD-48 diesels rotating two controllable pitch propellers. It also has 3x259 kW diesel-generators and one 52 kW diesel-generator. The vessel has a crew of 45 and it can carry a research team of 10 persons.

Hydrographic survey vesses of this project served on all fleets of the USSR and later - the Russian Federation. In total, 29 vessels of this type were built for the Navy.

Hydrographic Survey Vessel Arktika laid down at the Stocznia Polnocna Shipyard, Gdansk, Poland (yard No.861/1), launched 09 May 1967, commissioned 30 December 1967 and was assigned to the Black Sea Fleet.

In 2003 the ship was excluded from the lists of the Black Sea Fleet.