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.

The Project 871 / Biya-class small hydrographic vessels has a length of 54,9 m, a width of 9,5 m and a draft of 2,8 m. The vessel has a standard displacement of 585 tonnes and full load displacement of 690 tonnes. It has a maximum speed of 13 knots, range of 3160 nm at 10 knots and an endurance of 15 days. The vessel is equipped with one Don navigation radar. The vessel is powered by two 600 hp Cegielski-Sulzer diesels rotating two controllable pitch propellers, and three 90 kW diesel generators. The vessel has a crew of 25 and it can carry a research team of 8 persons.

Small hydrographic survey vesses of this project served on all fleets of the USSR and later - the Russian Federation. In total, 18 vessels of this type were built for the Navy.

Hydrographic Survey Vessel GS-203 laid down at the Stocznia Polnocna Shipyard, Gdansk, Poland, commissioned in 1974 and was assigned to the Black Sea Fleet.

In 1978 the ship was transferred to the Cape Verde.