A barge-man is someone who operates or works on a barge, a flat-bottomed boat used for transporting goods. There are several synonyms for the term barge-man such as boatman, waterman, mariner, skipper, helmsman, and navigator. Boatman is a common synonym for a barge-man, it refers to a person who operates any kind of boat. Waterman is also used for someone who works on a barge and other water vessels. Mariner is a synonym used for a seafarer and is not limited to barge-workers only. Skipper is another term used for the captain or the person in charge of overseeing a barge. Helmsman and navigator are used for someone who steers and navigates a watercraft.