INVESTMENTS (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		12 Months Ended
Dec. 11, 2018	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Equity Method Investment [Abstract]
Impairment of investment		$ 2.6
NATs share of NAOs total market capitalization		$ 4.2	$ 12.0
Nordic American Offshore Limited [Member]
Equity Method Investment [Abstract]
Ownership interest		13.55%	16.10%
Additional equity	$ 5.0
Transaction recognized in dilution loss	$ 0.6	$ 4.4
Investment value, cost basis		4.2
Dividends received		0.3	$ 1.0
Carrying value of investment		$ 4.2

No definition available.

Name:	nat_EquityMethodInvestmentAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	nat_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of new equity raised by an entity.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nat_EquityMethodInvestmentAdditionalCapitalRaised
Namespace Prefix:	nat_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the carrying amount on the entity's balance sheet of its investment in common stock of an equity method investee.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nat_EquityMethodInvestmentsCarryingValue
Namespace Prefix:	nat_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This item represents an other than temporary decline in value that has been recognized against an investment accounted for under the equity method of accounting. The excess of the carrying amount over the fair value of the investment represents the amount of the write down which is or was reflected in earnings. The written down value is a new cost basis with the adjusted value of the investment becoming its new carrying value subject to the equity accounting method. Evidence of a loss in value might include, but would not necessarily be limited to, absence of an ability to recover the carrying amount of the investment or inability of the investee to sustain an earnings capacity which would justify the carrying amount of the investment.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 323
-SubTopic 10
-Section 35
-Paragraph 32
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114001220&loc=d3e32787-111569

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOtherThanTemporaryImpairment
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 323
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (a)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114001798&loc=d3e33918-111571

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fair value portion of investments accounted under the equity method.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 323
-SubTopic 10
-Section 25
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66022186&loc=d3e32014-111567

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentsFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Cost of the investment.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 946
-SubTopic 210
-Section 50
-Paragraph 6
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=99383244&loc=d3e12121-115841

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentOwnedAtCost
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Dividends received on equity and other investments during the current period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 16
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109223946&loc=d3e3337-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProceedsFromDividendsReceived
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The net realized gains or losses on investments during the period, not including gains or losses on securities separately or otherwise categorized as trading, available-for-sale, or held-to-maturity.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 220
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-04.3(a))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114873790&loc=SL114874131-224263

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RealizedInvestmentGainsLosses
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=nat_NordicAmericanOffshoreLimitedMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: