CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010
Revenues, net of commissions	$ 190,811,259		$ 313,432,431		$ 265,036,066
Voyage expenses	26,110,591		44,345,774		3,726,847
Vessel expenses	90,551,655		85,049,671		72,983,630
Charter hire expenses	1,713,417		41,215,875		9,982,677
Depreciation and amortization	77,588,428		73,084,105		62,945,478
General and administrative expenses	32,065,421		37,559,639		40,029,261
Loss (gain) from sale of vessel	0		509,076		(291,011)
Total operating expenses	228,029,512		281,764,140		189,376,882
Operating (loss) income	(37,218,253)		31,668,291		75,659,184
Interest expense	66,643,296		46,769,965		48,885,674
Interest income	(32,271)		(130,007)		(369,558)
Other expense (Income)	(1,028,375)		(151,918)		298,418
Total other expense, net	65,582,650		46,488,040		48,814,534
Net (loss) income	$ (102,800,903)		$ (14,819,749)		$ 26,844,650
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	16,328,132	[1]	15,655,443	[1]	15,551,108	[1]
Diluted (in shares)	16,328,132	[1]	15,655,443	[1]	15,604,311	[1]
Per share amounts:
Basic net income (loss) (in dollars per share)	$ (6.30)	[1]	$ (0.95)	[1]	$ 1.73	[1]
Diluted net income (loss) (in dollars per share)	$ (6.30)	[1]	$ (0.95)	[1]	$ 1.72	[1]

[1] Adjusted to give effect to the 1 for 4 reverse stock split that became effective on May 22, 2012, see Note 11.