Barge vs Scow

[Les Weston]

Great info. Thanks for the reply.

[Brent]

For simplicity sake a barge has a normal ships bow and stern and a scow usually has a flat stern and a tapered bow. A barge usually has regular hatches and a scow may have an open hold or two or three and may or may not be covered.

[Les Weston]

I'm re-reading one of Greenwood's "Namesakes" series and he refers to Barge or Scow.

Is there a difference, and if so what is it?