A abstract a method and apparatus are disclosed to transport and position a drilling rig over dry land marshland and water surface effect vehicles having drive and positioning means that develop thrust against the surface over which they travel are used to lift and transport a drilling barge after which they may be used as support and supply vehicles provision is made to adjust variable cargo loads so as to balance the assembled unit during transport application_number US 16772280 A description as shown by plan view of fig1 drilling barge 10 is illustrated in transport configuration being positioned between and detachably connected to and sealed against surface effect vehicles 11 and 12 along the length of their sides as at 13 and 14 respectively each vehicle 11 and 12 has a continuous skirt 15 around its lower periphery the skirt being suitable for retaining an air cushion in plenum 16 of each respective vehicle the lower edge 17 of skirt 15 being capable of maintaining contact with the earth 39 s surface 18 as shown in fig4 so as to retain said air cushion within plenum 16 thereby giving the vehicle vertical support over dry land water or marshland barge 10 has partial skirt 19 along its lower front end 20 skirt 19 being sealingly connected at each end to vehicle skirts 15 as at 21 partial skirt 22 at its lower rear end 23 partial skirt 22 being sealingly connected to vehicle skirts 15 as at 24 so as to retain an air cushion within plenum 25 under barge 10 for the purpose of supplying compressed air to plenum 16 so as to form an air cushion under the vehicle fans 43 are provided.