China deploys new Shuiqiao-class invasion barges to Nansan Island

China moved three newly built Shuiqiao-class Landing Platform Utility barges, also known as invasion barges, through the Pearl River Estuary and into the South China Sea between January 11 and 15, 2026, according to new imagery and tracking data released by SynMax’s maritime awareness platform, Theia.

Theia said the second batch consists of three self-propelled jack-up barges—an eight-leg 185-meter variant, a six-leg 128-meter variant, and a four-leg 108-meter variant—that were detected on January 11 transiting near Shenzhen. The vessels proceeded south and reached Nansan Island on January 12, where they began what the company assessed as sea trials and training operations.

As noted by SynMax, all vessels in the class are equipped with extendable roadways that can be lowered to form temporary docks or improvised logistics points. The barges are designed to establish infrastructure rapidly and support amphibious operations by deploying elevated platforms, staging areas, or surface connectors in shallow water.

According to Theia’s statement, one of the three barges was later observed on January 15 positioned on a beach on Nansan Island, roughly 16.43 miles (26.44 kilometers) southeast of Zhanjiang. The platform’s sensor fusion system integrates electro-optical satellite imagery, synthetic aperture radar, and automatic identification system data to maintain continuous tracking across more than 30 million square kilometers of coverage.

Theia reported that it has followed the development of the Shuiqiao program since December 2024, when the first batch of LPUs left Guangzhou Shipyard. The initial vessels underwent sea trials near the Wanshan Archipelago before participating in amphibious exercises near Zhanjiang in February 2025.

The Shuiqiao class, built as modular, multi-leg support platforms, uses jack-up mechanisms to lift themselves above the waterline once in position. This stabilizes the structure and allows the barges to deploy their roadway systems, turning them into ad-hoc piers for heavy equipment, military vehicles, or cargo transfer operations. The class is part of a growing portfolio of maritime logistics assets that are designed to support dispersed operations in contested environments.

The deployment to Nansan Island follows two years of growing activity around China’s southern coast, including the expansion of maritime infrastructure projects and increased movement of auxiliary logistics platforms. Theia previously reported recurring activity around Guangzhou, the Wanshan Archipelago, and areas near major naval bases along the Guangdong coastline.

In recent months, Chinese shipyards have continued to introduce new variants of the Shuiqiao class, increasing payload capacity, roadway length, and lift capability. The second batch detected in January represents the broadest mix of leg configurations observed to date.

The appearance of all three new barges on Nansan Island between January 12 and 15 reinforces ongoing assessments that China is strengthening its ability to establish temporary logistics hubs, prepare improvised landing sites, and sustain operations across dispersed islands in the South China Sea.