-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 F+02JX6kb2pa/GY0Ox3SnRf6FJoDpcOVJnMz7Xvoip3P85YeOlNHRb9ggKfubj0M
 Ibr1oTz7yyYHCmAjnTPyoQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209120-05-000001.txt : 20050611
<SEC-HEADER>0001209120-05-000001.hdr.sgml : 20050611
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050609112309
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209120-05-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050607
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050609
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050609

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BATKIN ALAN R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001209120

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-06479
		FILM NUMBER:		05886730

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		212-759-9027

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		350 PARK AVENUE
		STREET 2:		26TH FLOOR
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10022

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			OVERSEAS SHIPHOLDING GROUP INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000075208
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	DEEP SEA FOREIGN TRANSPORTATION OF FREIGHT [4412]
		IRS NUMBER:				132637623
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		511 FIFTH AVENUE
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10017
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2122511153

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		511 FIFTH AVENUE
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10017
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-06-07</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001209120</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BATKIN ALAN R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>350 PARK AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>26TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10022</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-06-07</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Pursuant to the Issuer's 2004 Stock Incentive Plan, the Reporting Person was granted restricted stock units for service as a non-employee director of the Issuer.  Each restricted stock unit represents a contingent right to receive one share of Common Stock of the Issuer upon the Reporting Person's termination of service as a Board member of the Issuer.  The restricted stock units vest upon the earlier of (i) June 7, 2006 and (ii) the 2006 annual meeting of the stockholders of the Issuer.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The restricted stock units have no voting rights, may not be transferred or otherwise disposed while the Reporting Person is a director of the Issuer and pay dividends in the form of additional restricted stock units at the same time dividends are paid on the Common Stock in an amount equal to the result obtained by dividing (i) the product of (x) the amount of units owned by the Reporting Person on the record date for the dividend on the Common Stock times (y) the dividend per share on the Common Stock by (ii) the closing price of a share of Common Stock on the payment date for the dividend on the Common Stock, which restricted stock units vest immediately upon payment.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/James I. Edelson, Attorney-in-Fact pursuant to a power of attorney previously filed</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-06-09</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----