China's innovative use of non-military assets for maritime operations

New imagery has surfaced showing China’s latest jack-up barges, which function as temporary piers that can be connected to other vessels via additional barges with jack-up supports for stability. These barges are widely viewed as part of preparations for a potential assault on Taiwan by the People’s Republic of China. Simultaneously, they highlight the increasing use of non-military maritime assets to support amphibious operations by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN).

Recently, a video showing three jack-up barges deployed in tandem on an unidentified beach circulated on social media. Around the same time, satellite imagery from Guangzhou Shipyard International (GSI) on Longxue Island, just southeast of Guangzhou, confirmed that three such barges had left the shipyard.

This observation was made by Tom Shugart, an adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) with an article published by The War Zone dedicated to his findings.

Shugart refers to these barges as T-LPTs (civilian-crewed auxiliary landing platform – transfer). According to his analysis, the three vessels left Longxue Island sometime after March 9, while another three remain under construction at the GSI facility.

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China’s efforts to avoid tracking

Shugart also examined data from the Automatic Identification System (AIS), which tracks ships using onboard transceivers. “After seeing the departure of these vessels, I went back and observed AIS data to see if the vessels were using AIS,” he noted on X. He found indications that tugs were moving the barges but detected no AIS signals from the vessels themselves, unlike standard commercial ships.

This suggests that China either does not want these barges to be tracked or that they are in fact PLAN assets. The article recalls that there is precedent for this, as some dual-purpose ferries involved in Chinese military exercises also operate without AIS.

Deployment and functionality

One of the most striking aspects of these jack-up barges is their deployment. Initially, analysts expected them to be used separately to create different-sized mobile causeways extending to beachheads. However, the latest imagery reveals that the three barges are linked together, forming a long continuous causeway. Shugart estimates the total length of this structure to be 850 meters.

This extended reach allows the causeway to be positioned farther out to sea and into deeper waters, facilitating the transfer of cargo, vehicles, and personnel from larger ships to shore.

This development follows a similar sighting in January, when a Chinese roll-on/roll-off (RO/RO) ferry was seen linked to a temporary pier via a different type of barge equipped with jack-up legs. According to the article's authors, the new imagery reinforces the idea that China is refining its techniques for rapid and stable amphibious logistics.

Comparison with other military applications

Temporary piers and causeways have long been used in military operations. Recently, the U.S. military briefly deployed a temporary pier system to accelerate humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza. However, severe weather damaged the structure, demonstrating the vulnerability of such systems.

China’s jack-up barge system differs by incorporating struts that elevate the barge above the water, making it more stable and resistant to harsh weather conditions. This design ensures that the structure remains operational even in rough seas, allowing for a higher volume of transported supplies and personnel. However, its large size and stationary nature also make it an easy and high-value target, meaning it would likely be deployed after an initial landing, to support mass reinforcements and logistics once a degree of control has been established.

Jack-up barges themselves are not new. A well-known historical example is the Mulberry harbors used by the Allies during World War II’s D-Day landings in Normandy, France. These temporary piers enabled rapid unloading of supplies onto the beaches.

China, however, has over a decade of experience integrating semi-submersible and jack-up barges with military and civilian maritime operations. This includes the use of commercial RO/RO ferries in tandem with temporary piers and causeways.

Dual-use implications

While these jack-up barges are primarily seen in the context of a potential assault on Taiwan, they have broader strategic applications. China’s hybrid use of military and civilian amphibious assets could support military operations across the Indo-Pacific region. Additionally, these systems could play a role in disaster relief and humanitarian assistance, further expanding their utility.

By Nazrin Sadigova