Note 1 - Basis of Presentation and General Information (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		1 Months Ended	0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended				3 Months Ended				3 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013	Oct. 28, 2013 Subsequent Event [Member] Korea Line Corporation [Member]	May 09, 2013 Korea Line Corporation [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Korea Line Corporation [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Korea Line Corporation [Member]	Jan. 03, 2013 Korea Line Corporation [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Korea Line Corporation [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Korea Line Corporation [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Korea Line Corporation [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Supramax Vessels [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Handymax Vessels [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Korea Line Corporation [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Korea Line Corporation [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Korea Line Corporation [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Korea Line Corporation [Member]	Feb. 07, 2013 Korea Line Corporation [Member]
Note 1 - Basis of Presentation and General Information (Details) [Line Items]
Vessels In Operation	45							13			43	2
Dead Weight Tonnage Of Operating Fleet	2,451,259
Average Age In Years Of Operating Fleet	6 years 328 days
Other than Temporary Impairment Losses, Investments									$ 8,200,000				$ 8,200,000	$ 7,300,000
Line of Credit Facility, Covenant Terms, Waivers, Percentage of Revolving and Term Loans Outstanding Held by Lenders	66.67%
Adjusted Chartered Rate Value								17,000
Contract Receivable							63,700,000
Investment Owned, Balance, Shares (in Shares)							1,224,094			566,529
Contract Receivable, Due in Next Twelve Months						10,300,000
Contract Receivable, Due after Year One						53,400,000
Number of Months Stock Certificates Are Secured in Depository																	6 months
Bunker Liabilities Released						3,500,000
Deferred Revenue						13,700,000
Investment Owned, Balance, Principal Amount						5,900,000
Accounts and Notes Receivable, Net						2,700,000
Termination Revenue						32,800,000
Gain (Loss) on Contract Termination		3,331,692			3,500,000	3,300,000
Reduction Of Shares Outstanding		1 to 15
Reduction Of Long Term Receivable						90.00%
Share-based Goods and Nonemployee Services Transaction, Shares Approved for Issuance (in Shares)						538,751
Other Expenses						3,000,000
Share-based Goods and Nonemployee Services Transaction, Securities Issued				538,751
Incremental Gain on Trading Shares															32,500,000
Proceeds From Charter Agreement Termination Receivable			3,900,000
Investment Owned, Shares Sold (in Shares)													58,128			58,128
Proceeds from Sale of Available-for-sale Securities, Equity																2,300,000
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Realized Losses																400,000
Investment Owned, at Fair Value										$ 11,700,000