Pontoon bridges were converted into boats to transport large-scale equipment to do rescue work after a 6.8-magnitude earthquake hit southern China.

Video filmed in the county of Luding in Sichuan Province on September 9 shows an excavator driving onto a boat formed by pontoon bridges to be delivered across a river.

Since the roads were interrupted and seriously damaged, large-scale equipment was having difficulties entering the places affected by the earthquake.

So 10 pontoon bridges were formed into two boats to transport the equipment, with each boat able to carry up to 40 tons.

It was the first time in the country that pontoon bridges as boats were used to deliver large-scale equipment.

The video was provided by local media with permission.

泸定地震发生后，省道217线震中磨西到石棉段的28公里路段多处中断、损毁严重，大型机械设备难以进入受灾点位，严重制约抢通保畅救援建设进度。为提升抢通救援工作效率，尽快打通省道217线震中磨西到石棉段，四川省交通运输厅抗震救灾前线指挥部现场踏勘和商议后，决定利用省道217线紧邻大渡河的优势，在得妥大桥旁大渡河岸搭建临时码头，开启水陆联运应急通道。
四川省公路交通应急装备物资储备中心组织了10节动力舟桥，拼装成两艘“动力舟船”，即水上作业平台。每艘承载力可达40吨。与此同时，联合抢险的蜀道集团已经从全国调运了十多台（套）挖掘机、装载机等大型机械设备。
9日上午6时，已经搭好的第一艘动力舟船靠岸，准备运送第一台挖掘机前往救援现场。这是我国首次应用动力舟桥搭建移动船运送大型机械设备。
接下来，这些救援设备将通过这种“水陆联运”应急通道，被运送至大渡河下游湾东村片区塌方段附近开展抢通工作。（视频由四川台提供）