Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net (loss)/income	$ (21,697,115)	$ 12,574,684	$ (43,796,685)
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss)/income to net cash provided by/(used in) operating activities:
Depreciation	34,318,053	32,364,359	29,354,017
Amortization of deferred drydocking costs	6,227,851	5,353,102	4,336,669
Amortization of operating lease right-of-use asset	12,764,596
Amortization of debt discount and debt issuance costs	3,783,939	1,913,651	5,927,984
Loss on debt extinguishment	2,268,452	0	14,968,609
Amortization of fair value below contract value of time charter acquired	0	(681,898)	(716,783)
Payment-in-kind interest on debt	0	0	10,098,401
Gain on sale of vessels	(5,978,566)	(335,160)	(2,134,767)
Net unrealized loss/(gain) on fair value of derivatives	(75,537)	315,748	(55,675)
Fees paid on time charter termination	0	0	(1,500,000)
Stock-based compensation expense	4,826,324	9,207,480	8,738,615
Drydocking expenditures	(11,903,474)	(8,323,191)	(2,579,111)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts payable	3,199,113	993,557	335,688
Accounts receivable	(6,902)	(3,465,025)	(12,156,832)
Accrued interest	3,585,458	(54,684)	1,761,443
Inventories	313,507	(2,024,706)	(3,236,366)
Operating lease liabilities short and long-term	(13,475,534)	0	0
Other current and non-current assets	1,503,904	(207,234)	(331,707)
Other accrued liabilities and other non-current liabilities	4,261,774	(1,125,638)	(1,340,366)
Prepaid expenses	4,463	(1,625,113)	83,196
Unearned revenue	(2,234,580)	590,531	(367,359)
Net cash provided by/ (used in) operating activities	21,685,726	45,470,463	(10,037,273)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of vessels and vessel improvements	(143,477,720)	(41,404,328)	(174,400,746)
Advance for vessel purchase	0	(2,040,000)	(2,201,773)
Purchase of scrubbers and ballast water treatment systems	(58,196,164)	(12,342,317)	0
Proceeds from hull and machinery insurance claims	3,845,967	0	0
Proceeds from redemption of short-term investment	0	4,500,000	(4,500,000)
Proceeds from sale of vessels	29,560,746	20,545,202	26,042,000
Purchase of other fixed assets	(351,434)	(272,067)	(189,120)
Net cash used in investing activities	(168,618,605)	(31,013,510)	(155,249,639)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from common stock placement, net of issuance costs	0	0	96,030,003
Financing costs paid to lenders	(3,533,770)	0	(2,025,514)
Other financing costs	(1,655,353)	(2,465,037)	(3,886,104)
Cash received from exercise of stock options	0	4,865	0
Cash used to settle net share equity awards	(1,443,753)	(2,559,104)	(289,539)
Net cash provided by financing activities	127,899,526	7,380,724	145,021,846
Net (decrease)/increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	(19,033,353)	21,837,677	(20,265,066)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of year	78,163,638	56,325,961	76,591,027
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of year	59,130,285	78,163,638	56,325,961
Supplemental cash flow information:
Accruals for scrubbers and ballast water treatment systems in Accounts payable and Other accrued liabilities	16,380,168	5,801,867	0
Cash paid during the period for interest excluding payment of accumulated payment-in-kind interest on the Second Lien Facility paid on December 8, 2017 of $17.7 million.	23,208,093	23,884,565	11,589,192
New First Lien Facility
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from long term debt	0	0	65,000,000
Repayments of lines of credit	(5,000,000)	(5,000,000)	0
New First Lien Facility | Revolver Loan
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from long term debt	5,000,000	0	0
New First Lien Facility | Term Loan
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayments of long-term debt	(60,000,000)	0	0
Convertible Debt Securities
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from long term debt	112,482,586	0	0
New Ultraco Debt Facility
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from long term debt	187,760,000	0	0
Repayments of long-term debt	(15,146,013)	0	0
Norwegian Bond Debt
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from long term debt	0	0	198,092,000
Repayments of long-term debt	(8,000,000)	(4,000,000)	0
Original Ultraco Debt Facility
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from long term debt	0	21,400,000	61,200,000
Repayments of long-term debt	(82,600,000)	0	0
Share Lending Agreement
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from long term debt	35,829	0	0
First Lien Facility
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayments of lines of credit	0	0	(184,099,000)
First Lien Facility | Revolver Loan
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayments of lines of credit	0	0	(25,000,000)
Second Lien Facility
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss)/income to net cash provided by/(used in) operating activities:
Payment-in-kind interest on debt	0	0	(17,426,244)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayments of lines of credit	$ 0	$ 0	$ (60,000,000)