COMPANY INQUIRY AND RESTATEMENT (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010
Shipping Revenues:
Pool revenues	$ 241,314	$ 245,028		$ 355,915
Time and bareboat charter revenues	299,267	267,159		276,636
Voyage charter revenues	583,253	537,344		413,059
Shipping revenues	1,137,134	1,049,531		1,045,610
Operating Expenses:
Voyage expenses	296,288	259,330		192,332
Vessel expenses	285,023	287,610		265,251
Charter hire expenses	370,405	383,940		369,667
Depreciation and amortization	201,284	179,721		170,670
General and administrative	88,845	83,178		100,424
Shipyard contract termination recoveries	0	0		(2,061)
(Gain)/loss on disposal of vessels, including impairments	(271,359)	2,060		(28,622)
Total Operating Expenses	1,516,367	1,191,719		1,124,905
Loss from Vessel Operations	(379,233)	(142,188)		(79,295)
Equity in Income of Affiliated Companies	33,486	20,555		3,593
Operating Loss	(345,747)	(121,633)		(75,702)
Other Income	(1,314)	2,154		1,047
Loss before Interest Expense and Taxes	(347,061)	(119,479)		(74,655)
Interest Expense	(93,421)	(79,898)		(67,044)
Loss before Income Taxes	(481,595)	(199,377)		(141,699)
Income Tax Benefit/(Provision)	1,481	(1,986)		19,157
Net Loss	(480,114)	(201,363)	[1]	(122,542)	[1]
Earnings per share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ (15.82)	$ (6.67)		$ (4.15)
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (15.82)	$ (6.67)		$ (4.15)
Cash dividends declared (in dollars per share)	$ 0	$ 1.53		$ 1.75
Weighted Average Number of Common Shares Outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	30,339,258	30,228,441		29,498,127
Diluted (in shares)	30,339,258	30,228,441		29,498,127
Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]
Shipping Revenues:
Pool revenues		245,028		355,915
Time and bareboat charter revenues		267,159		276,636
Voyage charter revenues		537,344		413,059
Shipping revenues		1,049,531		1,045,610
Operating Expenses:
Voyage expenses		259,330		192,332
Vessel expenses		287,610		265,251
Charter hire expenses		383,940		369,667
Depreciation and amortization		179,721		170,670
General and administrative		83,178		100,424
Shipyard contract termination recoveries				(2,061)
(Gain)/loss on disposal of vessels, including impairments		(2,060)		28,622
Total Operating Expenses		1,191,719		1,124,905
Loss from Vessel Operations		(142,188)		(79,295)
Equity in Income of Affiliated Companies		22,054		3,593
Operating Loss		(120,134)		(75,702)
Other Income		2,154		1,047
Loss before Interest Expense and Taxes		(117,980)		(74,655)
Interest Expense		(79,898)		(67,044)
Loss before Income Taxes		(197,878)		(141,699)
Income Tax Benefit/(Provision)		4,962		7,456
Net Loss		(192,916)		(134,243)
Earnings per share:
Basic (in dollars per share)		$ (6.39)		$ (4.55)
Diluted (in dollars per share)		$ (6.39)		$ (4.55)
Cash dividends declared (in dollars per share)		$ 1.53		$ 1.75
Weighted Average Number of Common Shares Outstanding:
Basic (in shares)		30,228,441		29,498,127
Diluted (in shares)		30,228,441		29,498,127
Scenario, Adjustment [Member]
Operating Expenses:
Equity in Income of Affiliated Companies		(1,499)	[2]
Operating Loss		(1,499)
Loss before Interest Expense and Taxes		(1,499)
Loss before Income Taxes		(1,499)
Income Tax Benefit/(Provision)		(6,948)	[3]	11,701	[4]
Net Loss		$ (8,447)	[5],[6]	$ 11,701	[7]
Earnings per share:
Basic (in dollars per share)		$ (0.28)		$ 0.40
Diluted (in dollars per share)		$ (0.28)		$ 0.40

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

[2] To adjust for the overstatement in equity in income of affiliated companies resulting from the correction of an error in the method used to estimate the credit valuation adjustments associated with the fair valuation of the interest rate swap derivative contracts of certain of the Company’s equity method investees.

[3] To adjust for the understatement in the income tax provision benefit primarily related to changes in reserves for uncertain tax positions and the after-tax effect of accrued interest related to the reserve for uncertain tax positions offset by the reversal of the originally recorded valuation allowance.

[4] To adjust the income tax benefit primarily related to the reversal of the originally recorded valuation allowance, changes in reserves for uncertain tax positions and the after-tax effect of accrued interest related to reserves for uncertain tax positions.

[5] To adjust for the understatement of the net loss resulting from (1) the $1,499 overstatement in equity in income of affiliated companies resulting from the error in the method used to estimate the credit valuation adjustments associated with the fair valuation of the interest rate swap derivative contracts of certain of the Company’s equity method investees and (2) the $6.948 understatement in the income tax provision primarily related to changes in reserves for uncertain tax positions and the after-tax effect of accrued interest related to reserves for uncertain tax positions offset by the reversal of the originally recorded valuation allowance.

[6] To adjust for the understatement of the net loss resulting from (1) the $1,499 overstatement in equity in income of affiliated companies resulting from the error in the method used to estimate the credit valuation adjustments associated with the fair valuation of the interest rate swap derivative contracts of certain of the Company’s equity method investees and (2) the $7,726 understatement in the income tax provision relating to incremental reserves for uncertain tax positions and accrued interest related to reserves for uncertain tax positions.

[7] To adjust for the understatement in the income tax benefit related to the reversal of the originally recorded valuation allowance, changes in reserves for uncertain tax positions and the after-tax effect of accrued interest related to reserves for uncertain tax positions.