DEBT (Details Textual) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended				1 Months Ended				1 Months Ended			2 Months Ended	12 Months Ended			12 Months Ended			2 Months Ended	12 Months Ended			1 Months Ended	2 Months Ended		12 Months Ended			1 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012 Vessels	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011 Interest Rate Swap [Member]	Mar. 29, 2010 Notes 8.125 Percent Due 2018 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Notes 8.125 Percent Due 2018 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Notes 8.125 Percent Due 2018 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Notes 7.50 Percent Due 2024 [Member]	Aug. 05, 2011 Debentures 8.75 Percent Due 2013 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Debentures 8.75 Percent Due 2013 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Debentures 8.75 Percent Due 2013 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Term loans maturing in 2023 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Term loans maturing in 2023 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Term loans maturing in 2023 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Term loans maturing in 2023 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Term loans maturing in 2023 [Member] After Amendment through January 2013 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Term loans maturing in 2023 [Member] Before Amendment [Member]	Jan. 31, 2011 Term loans maturing in 2023 [Member] Very Large Crude Carrier Vessel [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility [Member]	Dec. 31, 2006 Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility [Member]	Dec. 31, 2006 Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility [Member] Amount that will decrease in February 2011 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2006 Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility [Member] Amount that will decrease in February 2012 [Member]	May 26, 2011 Unsecured Forward Start Revolving Credit Agreement [Member] Line Of Credit [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Unsecured Senior Notes [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Term loans maturing in 2020 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Term loans maturing in 2020 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Term loans maturing in 2020 [Member] After Amendment through January 2013 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Term loans maturing in 2020 [Member] Before Amendment [Member]	Jan. 18, 2012 Term loans maturing in 2016 [Member]
Debt interest rate					8.125%	8.125%		7.50%	8.75%	8.75%
Debt maturity year					2018	2018		2024	2013	2013		2023	2023
Unamortized discount						$ 2,898	$ 3,368			$ 11	$ 20
Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate				3.60%
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity																				1,800,000			900,000
Line Of Credit Maturity Period																				7 years
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date																				Feb. 08, 2013			Dec. 31, 2016
Line Of Credit Facility Reduction Amount														28,000							150,000	150,000
Interest Expense	93,421	79,898	67,044									1,295							2,091					5,529	480
Amortization of Financing Costs												36							185						34
Debt Instrument, Face Amount					300,000
Debt Instrument Registration Date					Mar. 22, 2010
Debt Instrument Maturity Month and Year					2018-03
Issuance of debt, net of issuance costs and deferred financing costs	572,000	168,393	643,080		289,745
Extinguishment of Debt, Amount									9,665
Loss on repurchase of debt	0	(375)	0						375
Amortization of debt discount and other deferred financing costs	3,198	3,576	4,081																					190
Prepayment Of Long Term Debt	37,665	37,665																											49,000
Debt Instrument Collateral Number Of Vessels	15
Net Book Value Of Vessels Percent Pledged As Collateral For Debt Instruments																									29.00%	29.00%
Line of Credit Facility, Amount Outstanding												310,492	310,492						1,489,000						266,490	266,490
Minimum Required Loan To Value Ratio													86.00%			105.00%	125.00%									84.00%	100.00%	110.00%
Line of Credit Facility, Remaining Borrowing Capacity															89,807			61,548
Interest Paid, Net	88,849	84,054	59,689
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount	9,146
Debtor-in-Possession Financing, Date Arrangement Approved by Bankruptcy Court	Feb. 05, 2013
Debtor-in-Possession Financing, Amount Arranged												$ 15,000	$ 15,000												$ 10,000	$ 10,000