Recently, at the Xijiang Education Park in Guigang City, Guangxi Province, more than 6,000 teachers and students were safely evacuated using an emergency powered pontoon bridge—dubbed the “rescue aircraft carrier”—and the moving scene has drawn widespread attention online. Reproduced from CCTV News and China National Radio, this article provides an in-depth analysis of this “rescue powerhouse”—independently developed by China Harzone—tracking its evolution from river-crossing equipment to a lifeline during floods and earthquakes. It examines its modular design and integrated vehicle-bridge technology, while looking ahead to the strength of China’s emergency rescue capabilities empowered by technology.
Recently, during a rescue operation at the Xijiang Education Park in Guigang City, Guangxi Province, a piece of equipment cut through the churning waters to reach the stranded residents. A student who had been stranded for three days said, “I’m so happy to be going home; I started crying when I saw this boat.”
Cheers, applause, and tears—these were the genuine reactions of the trapped teachers and students when they saw the powered pontoon bridge. By noon on July 9, in less than 20 hours, more than 6,000 teachers and students had all been safely evacuated via the powered pontoon bridge; not a single person was left behind, and no one was injured. Vividly referred to by everyone as the “rescue aircraft carrier,” it is actually known as the emergency powered pontoon bridge.
It is not the first time that this equipment, developed and manufactured entirely in-house by China Harzone—a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation Limited—has stepped up in times of crisis. From the severe torrential rains in Henan Province in 2021 to the recent floods in Guangxi Province, it has repeatedly cleared rescue routes through raging floodwaters.
How exactly was this “rescue aircraft carrier” developed and built? What other “hidden capabilities” does it have? And how will it be upgraded in the future? Let’s hear the answers from a representative of the shipbuilder--China Harzone.
● From River-Crossing Equipment to Heavy-Duty Rescue Equipment
According to relevant officers, the powered pontoon bridge was not originally designed for rescue operations, but rather as a river-crossing bridge system intended to facilitate the rapid passage of tracked or wheeled vehicles across rivers and other water obstacles. The initial pontoon bridges were unpowered and depended on a bridge-laying motorboat to push them forward while navigating the water. With technological advancements, a new type of pontoon bridge was later developed that integrates the propulsion system directly into the hull, eliminating the need for a separate motorboat to assist in operations. The overall structure is more compact, it can be deployed more quickly, and it is easier to operate.
△ A Powered Pontoon Bridge in Operation (File Photo)
From river-crossing equipment to critical disaster relief assets, the motorized pontoon bridge has proven its worth time and again in real-world operations↓
The motorized pontoon bridge first saw action in emergency rescue operations in 2016, the very year the equipment was finalized. At that time, a breach occurred in Chizhou City, Anhui Province; the motorized pontoon bridge arrived on the scene and quickly sealed the breach.
In 2021, the motorized pontoon bridges participated in emergency rescue operations in both Xinxiang City and Hebi City, Henan Province. In Xinxiang alone, they evacuated more than 1,000 trapped residents in just over five hours.
In 2022, following an earthquake in Luding City, Sichuan Province, with land transportation cut off, the motorized pontoon bridge arrived at the rescue site and opened a water rescue channel across the Dadu River, ensuring that other emergency response equipment could reach the scene via waterways as quickly as possible.
△ A Powered Pontoon Bridge in Operation (File Photo)
● Modular Design Allows for Flexible Assembly and Disassembly
The powered pontoon bridges’ versatility across various disaster scenarios is made possible by a series of core technologies incorporated into it. According to the person in charge, the powered pontoon bridge features a modular design, with the hull consisting of two types of modules: river-based pontoons and shore-based pontoons. Each river-based pontoon is 10 meters long and 8.3 meters wide, and the modules can be freely assembled or disassembled based on conditions at the rescue site.
This equipment has a high load-bearing capacity; a 50-meter-long powered pontoon bridge system can support up to 70 metric tons, and when used for personnel evacuation, it can transport more than 700 people in a single trip. In Guigang City, Guangxi Province, two to three sections were assembled into a single unit to create the floating platform that the students witnessed, capable of evacuating hundreds of people at once.
● Integrated Vehicle-Bridge Design with Multiple Operational Modes
In addition to being modular, loadable, and self-propelled, another major advantage of the powered pontoon bridge is its “speed.” Thanks to its integrated vehicle-bridge design, the pontoon bridge can be rapidly transported to the scene by land in the event of an emergency. Once it reaches the water’s edge, the pontoon body can slide directly from the vehicle into the water and be put into service immediately. Once on the water, it can also “transform” at any time according to needs—
One is the ferry-gate bridge mode, in which the river-based and shore-based vessels are joined to form a platform capable of independent waterborne transport, similar to a large ferry, enabling the transport of equipment and personnel across the water;
Another type is the belt-style pontoon bridge, which connects hulls of different designs end-to-end to span bodies of water, creating a radial passageway that ensures the continuous movement of equipment and personnel.
● Upgrades to Motorized Pontoon Bridges: Greater Power and Smart Capabilities
Although motorized pontoon bridges have proven their value in numerous real-world operations, rescue environments remain complex and ever-changing, and the challenges never cease. A relevant officer reveals that the technical team is planning upgrade solutions for the next generation of equipment, focusing on two key areas:
First, upgrading the propulsion system. Currently, motorized pontoon bridges are designed to operate in water currents of up to 3 meters per second; the goal is to increase this to over 4 meters per second to meet emergency rescue needs in high-velocity environments;
Second, an upgrade to smart capabilities. Existing powered pontoon bridges primarily rely on coordinated teamwork among multiple operators, placing high demands on the operators. The future goal is to achieve unmanned operation, reducing reliance on operators and ensuring personnel safety in extremely harsh environments.
From river-crossing equipment to a vital rescue tool, China’s independently developed powered pontoon bridge is a vivid example of how technology empowers emergency rescue efforts. Every iteration and upgrade of emergency equipment further strengthens and extends the lifesaving defense line.