<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0304</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2011-12-19</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001337856</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BLACKLEY IAN T</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>666 THIRD AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>5TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10017</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>SVP &amp;Head of Int'l ShippingOps</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2011-12-19</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>138</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>9.18</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>12705</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>513</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>(3)</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">In accordance with the terms of the Overseas Shipholding Group, Inc. 2004  Stock Incentive Plan, these 138 shares of common stock were surrendered to Overseas Shipholding Group, Inc. upon the December 19, 2011 vesting of 412 shares (the &quot;Vested Shares&quot;) of the reporting person's restricted stock in payment of the reporting person's tax withholding liability incurred as a result of the vesting of the Vested Shares.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Of these 12,705 shares of Common Stock, 4,617 shares are subject to vesting restrictions as of December 21, 2011.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The reporting person indirectly owns these 513 shares of common stock through the Overseas Shipholding Group, Inc. 2000 Employee Stock Purchase Plan as of December 21, 2011.  He acquired 18 shares since June 30, 2011 through the reinvestment of dividends under such Purchase Plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/James I. Edelson, Attorney-in-Fact, pursuant to power of attorney previously filed</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-12-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
