CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED) [Abstract]
Revenues, net of commissions	$ 80,323,369	$ 72,825,583	$ 243,421,532	$ 192,682,148
Voyage expenses	11,995,164	1,438,521	35,941,960	1,438,521
Vessel expenses	22,000,678	19,075,233	62,763,849	50,605,567
Charter hire expenses	11,058,796	2,837,980	38,013,289	2,837,980
Depreciation and amortization	18,660,293	17,193,853	53,459,509	46,437,290
General and administrative expenses	8,283,432	10,993,761	30,218,614	30,845,907
Loss (gain) from sale of vessel	509,076	(291,011)	509,076	(291,011)
Total operating expenses	72,507,439	51,248,337	220,906,297	131,874,254
Operating income	7,815,930	21,577,246	22,515,235	60,807,894
Interest expense	12,390,455	13,432,885	35,399,362	37,217,625
Interest income	(35,796)	(81,792)	(122,930)	(221,440)
Other expense	1,333,482	0	359,573	0
Total other expense, net	13,688,141	13,351,093	35,636,005	36,996,185
Net income (loss)	$ (5,872,211)	$ 8,226,153	$ (13,120,770)	$ 23,811,709
Weighted average shares outstanding :
Basic (in shares)	62,652,724	62,224,675	62,595,165	62,163,617
Diluted (in shares)	62,652,724	62,442,046	62,595,165	62,392,441
Per share amounts:
Basic net income (loss) (in dollars per share)	$ (0.09)	$ 0.13	$ (0.21)	$ 0.38
Diluted net income (loss) (in dollars per share)	$ (0.09)	$ 0.13	$ (0.21)	$ 0.38