2012 AND 2011 QUARTERLY RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended						3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010		Dec. 31, 2009	Jun. 30, 2012 As Reported [Member]		Mar. 31, 2012 As Reported [Member]		Dec. 31, 2011 As Reported [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 As Reported [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 As Reported [Member]	Mar. 31, 2011 As Reported [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 As Restated [Member]		Sep. 30, 2012 As Restated [Member]		Jun. 30, 2012 As Restated [Member]		Mar. 31, 2012 As Restated [Member]		Dec. 31, 2011 As Restated [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 As Restated [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 As Restated [Member]	Mar. 31, 2011 As Restated [Member]
Shipping revenues	$ 1,137,134	$ 1,049,531		$ 1,045,610			$ 291,354		$ 292,378		$ 257,746	$ 256,379	$ 271,738	$ 263,668	$ 255,897	[1]	$ 297,505	[1]	$ 291,354		$ 292,378		$ 257,746	$ 256,379	$ 271,738	$ 263,668
Gain/(loss) on disposal of vessels, including impairments	(271,359)	2,060		(28,622)			285		106		1,706	(233)	1,455	(868)	(271,418)	[1]	(332)	[1]	285		106		1,706	(233)	1,455	(868)
Total operating expenses	1,516,367	1,191,719		1,124,905			321,793		316,020		297,675	308,751	295,784	289,509	567,121	[1]	311,433	[1]	321,793		316,020		297,675	308,751	295,784	289,509
Loss from vessel operations	(379,233)	(142,188)		(79,295)			(30,439)		(23,642)		(39,929)	(52,372)	(24,046)	(25,841)	(311,224)	[1]	(13,928)	[1]	(30,439)		(23,642)		(39,929)	(52,372)	(24,046)	(25,841)
Equity in income of affiliated companies	33,486	20,555		3,593			5,538		7,080		8,959	3,523	3,930	5,642	11,308	[1]	9,869	[1]	5,401		6,908		8,779	2,204	3,930	5,642
Interest Expense	93,421	79,898		67,044			22,084		23,010		21,928	21,097	19,134	17,739	25,013	[1]	23,314	[1]	22,084		23,010		21,928	21,097	19,134	17,739
Reorganization items, net	41,113	0		0			0		0						41,113	[1]	0	[1]	0		0
Income Tax Benefit/(Provision)	1,481	(1,986)		19,157			(1,857)		1,347		1,857	329	1,220	1,556	1,203	[1]	(105)	[1]	911		(528)		(5,437)	10,206	6,621	(13,376)
Net loss	(480,114)	(201,363)	[2]	(122,542)	[2]		(55,326)		(34,813)		(49,970)	(71,080)	(37,308)	(34,558)	(364,773)		(25,786)	[1]	(52,695)		(36,860)		(57,444)	(62,522)	(31,907)	(49,490)
Comprehensive loss	(474,588)	(243,782)		(138,666)			(61,106)		(21,132)		(50,928)	(94,913)	(46,851)	(25,127)	(357,305)	[1]	(24,947)	[1]	(65,047)		(27,290)		(61,507)	(100,766)	(41,450)	(40,059)
Basic net loss per share (in dollars per share)	$ (15.82)	$ (6.67)		$ (4.15)			$ (1.83)		$ (1.15)		$ (1.65)	$ (2.35)	$ (1.24)	$ (1.15)	$ (12.01)	[1]	$ (0.85)	[1]	$ (1.74)		$ (1.22)		$ (1.90)	$ (2.07)	$ (1.06)	$ (1.64)
Diluted net loss per share (in dollars per share)	$ (15.82)	$ (6.67)		$ (4.15)			$ (1.83)		$ (1.15)		$ (1.65)	$ (2.35)	$ (1.24)	$ (1.15)	$ (12.01)	[1]	$ (0.85)	[1]	$ (1.74)		$ (1.22)		$ (1.90)	$ (2.07)	$ (1.06)	$ (1.64)
Cash and cash equivalents	507,342	54,877		253,649		474,690	226,554		213,353		54,877	156,347	204,276	257,681	507,342	[1]	566,880	[1]	226,554		213,353		54,877	156,347	204,276	257,681
Other receivables, including income taxes recoverable							48,994		51,763		52,337	57,149	61,996	59,827	28,900	[1]	26,118	[1]	28,882		30,329		30,548	35,360	40,207	38,038
Investments in affiliated companies	252,398	232,370					262,710		266,184		251,385	237,687	265,745	277,185	252,398	[1]	237,691	[1]	232,703		242,886		232,370	221,957	265,745	277,185
Vessels Deferred Dry Dock and Other Property	2,911,706	3,292,946					3,259,810	[3]	3,285,765	[3]	3,292,946	3,298,660	3,272,572	3,261,845	2,911,706	[1],[3]	3,225,380	[1],[3]	3,259,810	[3]	3,285,765	[3]	3,292,946	3,298,660	3,272,572	3,261,845
Total assets	4,043,535	3,993,545		3,854,237			4,151,334		4,201,064		4,034,349	4,155,429	4,228,472	4,266,842	4,043,535	[1]	4,384,695	[1]	4,101,215		4,156,332		3,993,545	4,117,910	4,206,683	4,245,053
Income taxes payable, including current portion of uncertain positions and deferred taxes							366	[4]	368	[4]					355,699	[1],[4]	366	[4]	366	[4]	368	[4]
Deferred income taxes and other liabilities, including non-current reserve for uncertain tax positions							280,508		277,247		277,050	272,267	273,358	273,961	397,941	[1]	795,060		793,441		791,626		789,199	777,122	788,090	794,094
Current installments on long-term debt	0	14,990					292,412		283,097		14,990	54,879	51,785	50,844	0	[1]	1,525,266		292,412		283,097		14,990	54,879	51,785	50,844
Long-term debt	0	2,050,902					1,952,240	[5]	1,961,418	[5]	2,050,902	2,071,362	2,031,496	2,010,130	0	[1],[5]	1,049,049	[1],[5]	1,952,240	[5]	1,961,418	[5]	2,050,902	2,071,362	2,031,496	2,010,130
Liabilities Subject to Compromise	2,652,537	0					0	[5]	0	[5]					2,652,537	[1],[5]	0	[1],[5]	0	[5]	0	[5]
Total liabilities	3,509,289	2,991,253					2,674,281		2,665,009		2,479,104	2,551,783	2,525,754	2,493,358	3,509,289	[1]	3,493,616	[1]	3,187,214		3,179,388		2,991,253	3,056,638	3,040,486	3,013,491
Paid-in additional capital	414,411	413,016					411,853		410,517		413,016	410,491	408,002	405,259	414,411	[1]	413,875	[1]	411,853		410,517		413,016	410,491	408,002	405,259
Retained earnings	1,024,480	1,504,594					1,949,892		2,005,218		2,040,031	2,090,042	2,167,861	2,231,880	1,024,480	[1]	1,389,253	[1]	1,415,039		1,467,734		1,504,594	1,562,079	1,631,340	1,689,958
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(113,781)	(119,307)					(93,889)		(88,110)		(101,791)	(100,833)	(77,000)	(67,457)	(113,781)	[1]	(121,249)	[1]	(122,088)		(109,737)		(119,307)	(115,244)	(77,000)	(67,457)
Total equity	$ 534,246	$ 1,002,292		$ 1,283,153		$ 1,867,855	$ 1,477,053		$ 1,536,055		$ 1,555,245	$ 1,603,646	$ 1,702,718	$ 1,773,484	$ 534,246	[1]	$ 891,079	[1]	$ 914,001		$ 976,944		$ 1,002,292	$ 1,061,272	$ 1,166,197	$ 1,231,562

[1] Financial information for the third and fourth quarter or full year 2012 had not been reported prior to the aforementioned restatement.

[2] Net loss has been restated for 2011 and 2010 as more fully described in Note 2 “Company Inquiry and Restatement.”

[3] As discussed in Note 7, “Vessels, Deferred Drydock and Other Property,” impairment charges aggregating $279,382 were recorded in the fourth quarter.

[4] Income taxes payable for the quarters ended March 31, 2012 and June 30, 2012 were previously reported as a component of the balance sheet line entitled “Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other current liabilities” of $135,559 and $142,605, respectively. Disaggregated amounts for income taxes payable are presented here to conform to the September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2012 balance sheet presentation.

[5] As discussed in Note 3, “Bankruptcy Filing and Going Concern,” and Note 11, “Debt,” the Debtors filed a petition for relief under Chapter 11 and its debt agreements are classified as Liabilities Subject to Compromise. From November 14, 2012 to December 31, 2012, interest expense of $9,395 was accordingly not recorded.