According to Zhang Gang, chief designer of the replenishment oiler , the purchase was made after the Chinese effort to design a new replenishment ship - ultimately the Type 903 replenishment ship - was delayed due to cost; the PLAN requirement was for one large replenishment per fleet, and it only had two Type 905 replenishment oilers.
Zhang Gang, chief designer of the replenishment oiler, indicated that the acquisition happened after China's endeavor to design a new replenishment ship - ultimately the Type 903 - was halted due to expenses; the PLAN required one large replenishment per fleet but only possessed two Type 905 replenishment oilers.