China's 'Real-Life Transformer' Barge Aids Flood Rescue of 6,000

A specialized pontoon barge, dubbed a "real-life Transformer" by China's Foreign Ministry, has become a critical asset in rescuing thousands from severe floods in southern China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The foldable, self-propelled vessel can carry over 500 people at a time, significantly speeding up rescue efforts.

The barge's capabilities were prominently displayed during a large-scale operation at Guangxi Logistics Vocational Technical College in Guigang City. Approximately 6,000 staff and students were stranded by floodwaters reaching nearly 5 meters deep. Initial rescue attempts using rubber boats and assault boats were slow due to their limited capacity.

However, the deployment of three large self-propelled pontoon barges by the state-owned China AnNeng Construction Group dramatically accelerated the rescue. By midday on the 9th, all students and staff had been safely evacuated, according to state media. The barges, each approximately 60 meters long and 8 meters wide, have a total load capacity of over 60 tons.

Manufactured by China Harbin Industrial Company, a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), these barges are designed for rapid assembly and deployment, taking only about 10 minutes to set up. They are equipped with their own propulsion systems, capable of speeds up to 10.8 km/h even when fully loaded. CSSC states the advanced barges have been widely used in various disaster relief scenarios across China since 2020, capable of operating in high-altitude and extreme cold environments.

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China's real-life Transformer