-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 7zs1rH37c/Xubtok+5NvZg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000919590-04-000001.txt : 20040203
<SEC-HEADER>0000919590-04-000001.hdr.sgml : 20040203
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040203154754
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000919590-04-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	5
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031231
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040203

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			OVERSEAS SHIPHOLDING GROUP INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000075208
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	DEEP SEA FOREIGN TRANSPORTATION OF FREIGHT [4412]
		IRS NUMBER:				132637623
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		511 FIFTH AVENUE
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10017
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2122511153

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		511 FIFTH AVENUE
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10017

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RECANATI LEON
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000919590
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NY
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		5
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-06479
		FILM NUMBER:		04562963

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O IDB HOLDING CORP
		STREET 2:		3 DANIEL FRISCH STREET THE TOWER
		CITY:			TEL AVIV ISRAEL
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2129694412

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O IDB HOLDING CORP
		STREET 2:		3 DANIEL FRISCH STREET THE TOWER
		CITY:			TEL AVIV ISREAL
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>5
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>5</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-12-31</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <form3HoldingsReported>0</form3HoldingsReported>

    <form4TransactionsReported>0</form4TransactionsReported>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000075208</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>OVERSEAS SHIPHOLDING GROUP INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>OSG</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000919590</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>RECANATI LEON</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>THE TRIANGLE TOWER</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>3 AZRIELI CENTER</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>TEL AVIV</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>L3</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>067023</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>ISRAEL</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-12-19</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>898270</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>250000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-12-19</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>898270</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>898270</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>(1)</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-12-24</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>898270</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>898270</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>(2)</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The Reporting Person transferred 898,270 shares he directly owned to a corporation wholly owned by him.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The Reporting Person transferred by gift to a trust all of the shares of the corporation referred to in note 1.  The Reporting Person is a remote and contingent indirect beneficiary of this trust and disclaims beneficial ownership over these 898,270 shares except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/James I. Edelson, Attorney-in-Fact, pursuant to power of attorney previously filed</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-02-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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