SUBSEQUENT EVENTS	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
Subsequent Events [Abstract]
Subsequent Events [Text Block]	NOTE 24 — SUBSEQUENT EVENTS: Subsequent to December 31, 2012, the Bankruptcy Court has approved the Company’s rejection of leases on 23 chartered-in International Flag vessels. The Company entered into new charter agreements with the owners of eight of these vessels (seven Handysize Product Carriers and one Aframax), which lease agreements were assumed as amended pursuant to orders of the Bankruptcy Court, at lower rates. Twelve vessels (One Suezmax, one Aframax, two Panamax Product Carriers and eight Handysize Product Carriers) were redelivered to their owners as of March 31, 2013 and an additional three Handysize Product Carriers were redelivered to owners in April 2013. In March 2013, the Bankruptcy Court approved the Company’s rejection of the lease agreement for its corporate headquarters office space. The Company will record a provision for the estimated allowable claim from the building owner in the period in which it vacates the office space, in June 2013. The Company will also record a non-cash write-off of the unamortized cost of leasehold improvements and other property at such time. In February 2013, the Company’s then-current Chief Executive Officer resigned. In conjunction with this resignation, the Company reversed previously recognized compensation expense of $3,209 relating to unvested restricted stock and stock option awards. Also, in April 2013, thirty-seven employees, including three senior executive officers of the Company were terminated as part of a reduction in force. The Company expects to record approximately $3,714 in severance related costs during 2013. On March 22, 2013, the Company entered into an agreement with its current President and Chief Executive Officer who assumed that role in February 2013, confirming the terms of his employment with the Company (the “Letter Agreement’). The terms of the Letter Agreement were subsequently approved by the Bankruptcy Court and provide for the waiver of any and all rights, claims or causes of action that the Company may have, including, without limitation, claims pursuant to Sections 547 and 548 of the Bankruptcy Code, with respect to payments such executive officer received in connection with his June 15, 2012 letter agreement with the Company described in Note 20 above, conditioned upon such waiver remaining effective only in the event that either (1) he remains continuously employed with the Company through the date on which the Company emerges from the proceedings under Chapter 11 or (2) his employment is terminated in connection with a divestiture of one or more of the Company’s assets or businesses. Furthermore, the agreement provides for an allowed administrative claim against OSG Ship Management, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, pursuant to Section 503(b)(1)(A) of the Bankruptcy Code, for amounts totaling $6,399 owed to the President and Chief Executive Officer under the Company’s Supplemental Executive Savings Plan. This provision is subject to his continued employment with the Company through December 1, 2014.

NOTE 24 — SUBSEQUENT EVENTS:

Subsequent to December 31, 2012, the Bankruptcy Court has approved the Company’s rejection of leases on 23 chartered-in International Flag vessels. The Company entered into new charter agreements with the owners of eight of these vessels (seven Handysize Product Carriers and one Aframax), which lease agreements were assumed as amended pursuant to orders of the Bankruptcy Court, at lower rates. Twelve vessels (One Suezmax, one Aframax, two Panamax Product Carriers and eight Handysize Product Carriers) were redelivered to their owners as of March 31, 2013 and an additional three Handysize Product Carriers were redelivered to owners in April 2013.

In March 2013, the Bankruptcy Court approved the Company’s rejection of the lease agreement for its corporate headquarters office space. The Company will record a provision for the estimated allowable claim from the building owner in the period in which it vacates the office space, in June 2013. The Company will also record a non-cash write-off of the unamortized cost of leasehold improvements and other property at such time.

In February 2013, the Company’s then-current Chief Executive Officer resigned. In conjunction with this resignation, the Company reversed previously recognized compensation expense of $3,209 relating to unvested restricted stock and stock option awards. Also, in April 2013, thirty-seven employees, including three senior executive officers of the Company were terminated as part of a reduction in force. The Company expects to record approximately $3,714 in severance related costs during 2013.

On March 22, 2013, the Company entered into an agreement with its current President and Chief Executive Officer who assumed that role in February 2013, confirming the terms of his employment with the Company (the “Letter Agreement’). The terms of the Letter Agreement were subsequently approved by the Bankruptcy Court and provide for the waiver of any and all rights, claims or causes of action that the Company may have, including, without limitation, claims pursuant to Sections 547 and 548 of the Bankruptcy Code, with respect to payments such executive officer received in connection with his June 15, 2012 letter agreement with the Company described in Note 20 above, conditioned upon such waiver remaining effective only in the event that either (1) he remains continuously employed with the Company through the date on which the Company emerges from the proceedings under Chapter 11 or (2) his employment is terminated in connection with a divestiture of one or more of the Company’s assets or businesses. Furthermore, the agreement provides for an allowed administrative claim against OSG Ship Management, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, pursuant to Section 503(b)(1)(A) of the Bankruptcy Code, for amounts totaling $6,399 owed to the President and Chief Executive Officer under the Company’s Supplemental Executive Savings Plan. This provision is subject to his continued employment with the Company through December 1, 2014.