CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (unaudited) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS [Abstract]
Revenues, net of commissions	$ 76,405,388	$ 65,612,840	$ 163,098,163	$ 119,856,565
Voyage expenses	8,125,284	0	23,946,796	0
Vessel expenses	21,289,772	16,052,945	40,763,171	31,530,334
Charter hire expenses	11,029,811	0	26,954,493	0
Depreciation and amortization	17,640,372	15,537,068	34,799,216	29,243,437
General and administrative expenses	8,038,757	10,479,379	21,935,182	19,852,146
Total operating expenses	66,123,996	42,069,392	148,398,858	80,625,917
Operating income	10,281,392	23,543,448	14,699,305	39,230,648
Interest expense	11,672,428	12,607,754	23,008,907	23,784,740
Interest income	(29,464)	(76,227)	(87,134)	(139,648)
Other expense (Income)	76,706	0	(973,909)	0
Total other expense, net	11,719,670	12,531,527	21,947,864	23,645,092
Net income (loss)	$ (1,438,278)	$ 11,011,921	$ (7,248,559)	$ 15,585,556
Weighted average shares outstanding :
Basic	62,571,322	62,176,684	62,565,909	62,215,915
Diluted	62,571,322	62,336,774	62,565,909	62,366,183
Per share amounts:
Basic net income (loss)	$ (0.02)	$ 0.18	$ (0.12)	$ 0.25
Diluted net income (loss)	$ (0.02)	$ 0.18	$ (0.12)	$ 0.25