CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS [Abstract]
Revenues, net of commissions	$ 52,616,400	$ 86,692,775
Voyage expenses	7,017,793	15,821,512
Vessel expenses	22,442,062	19,473,399
Charter hire expenses	590,484	15,924,682
Depreciation and amortization	19,433,357	17,158,844
General and administrative expenses	10,634,660	13,896,425
Total operating expenses	60,118,356	82,274,862
Operating income (loss)	(7,501,956)	4,417,913
Interest expense	10,960,910	11,336,479
Interest income	(8,038)	(57,670)
Other income	(1,021,299)	(1,050,615)
Total other expense, net	9,931,573	10,228,194
Net loss	$ (17,433,529)	$ (5,810,281)
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	63,003,286	62,560,436
Diluted (in shares)	63,003,286	62,560,436
Per share amounts:
Basic net loss (in dollars per share)	$ (0.28)	$ (0.09)
Diluted net loss (in dollars per share)	$ (0.28)	$ (0.09)