Wiktionary
n. (context colloquial English) A watercraft that carries garbage and waste from one location to others for distribution and disposal.
Wikipedia
A garbage scow is a large watercraft used to transport refuse and garbage across waterways. It is often in the form of a barge which is towed or otherwise moved by means of tugboats; however, many are also self-propelled. They are most common in large, coastal cities, such as New York City, who may transport collected trash to neighboring ports for disposal or, occasionally, even illegally dump the payload at sea.
At times, garbage scows have been used to secretly transport illegal narcotics. In 1948, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported a major bust of narcotics smugglers by United States customs guards and NYC police, with city sanitation workers searching through 20 tons of garbage on a scow in New York Harbor to search for over $1 million in drugs concealed there.
In another case, during the era of prohibition, a garbage scow (also in New York) was used to smuggle 1000 cases of liquor from New York's "rum row".
Usage examples of "garbage scow".
If I ever again lay eyes on you in this office on anything other than official business, you will be the radar intercept officer on a garbage scow in Newark for the rest of your naval career.
Behind her, she towed a garbage scow newly fitted with two pairs of oars.
But this garbage scow had survived the crisis, and that said a lot for the captain and crew, Academy graduates or not.
In a moment of self-pity, he saw himself at the helm, middle-aged, potbellied, once the master of a proud fishing boat, now only the whoremaster of a garbage scow.
The only other words I've heard from any of you during the two days we've been on this garbage scow were to the effect of 'Don't throw up on me.
But this garbage scow to the stars gig with the mad doctor in charge had a very bad smell to it.