DEBT (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended				3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		1 Months Ended				1 Months Ended	6 Months Ended										0 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012	Aug. 31, 2012 August 2012 Credit Facility Agreements	Jun. 30, 2013 Minimum	Jun. 30, 2012 Minimum	Jun. 30, 2013 Minimum	Jun. 30, 2012 Minimum	Jun. 30, 2013 Maximum	Jun. 30, 2012 Maximum	Jun. 30, 2013 Maximum	Jun. 30, 2012 Maximum	Feb. 29, 2012 2007 Credit Facility	Dec. 31, 2011 2007 Credit Facility	Jun. 30, 2013 2007 Credit Facility	Dec. 31, 2012 2007 Credit Facility	Aug. 31, 2012 2007 Credit Facility August 2012 Credit Facility Agreements	Jun. 30, 2013 2007 Credit Facility August 2012 Credit Facility Agreements	Aug. 01, 2012 2007 Credit Facility August 2012 Credit Facility Agreements	Jun. 30, 2013 $100 Million Term Loan Facility	Dec. 31, 2012 $100 Million Term Loan Facility	Aug. 12, 2010 $100 Million Term Loan Facility item	Aug. 01, 2012 $100 Million Term Loan Facility August 2012 Credit Facility Agreements	Jun. 30, 2013 $253 Million Term Loan Facility	Dec. 31, 2012 $253 Million Term Loan Facility	Aug. 20, 2010 $253 Million Term Loan Facility item	Aug. 01, 2012 $253 Million Term Loan Facility August 2012 Credit Facility Agreements	May 09, 2013 2010 Baltic Trading Credit Facility	May 31, 2011 2010 Baltic Trading Credit Facility item	Dec. 31, 2010 2010 Baltic Trading Credit Facility	Jun. 30, 2013 2010 Baltic Trading Credit Facility	May 31, 2013 2010 Baltic Trading Credit Facility	Dec. 31, 2012 2010 Baltic Trading Credit Facility	Nov. 30, 2010 2010 Baltic Trading Credit Facility	Apr. 16, 2010 2010 Baltic Trading Credit Facility
Long-term debt
Long-term debt, gross																	$ 1,055,912	$ 1,055,912				$ 75,484	$ 75,484			$ 180,793	$ 180,793						$ 102,250		$ 101,250
Less: Current portion	(1,312,189)		(1,312,189)
Long-term debt	102,250		102,250		1,413,439
Maximum borrowing capacity																	1,055,912					100,000	100,000	100,000	100,000	253,000	253,000	253,000	253,000					125,000		150,000	100,000
Ratio of interest-bearing indebtedness to the sum of interest-bearing indebtedness and consolidated net worth (as a percent)						62.50%
Reference rate for interest payable																			LIBOR
Applicable margin over reference rate for interest payable, before increase (as a percent)																					2.00%
Applicable margin over reference rate for interest payable (as a percent)																					3.00%
Minimum cash balance required per vessel mortgaged, before increase																					500
Minimum cash balance required per vessel mortgaged																					750
Outstanding debt classified as a current liability																	1,055,912					75,484				180,793
Facility fee (as a percent)															1.00%	2.00%
Reduction in facility fee if equity offering results in desired gross proceeds (as a percent)																1.00%
Proceeds to be received on issuance of common stock																50,000
Amount of letters of credit issued																	0
Issuance of common stock				7,500,000											7,500,000
Gross proceeds from issuance of common stock				50,721											53,250
Number of vessels acquired																								5				13
Remaining borrowing capacity																						0				0							22,750
Available working capital borrowings																																	22,500				25,000
Amount of drawdowns																														1,000		1,500
Restricted cash	9,850		9,850																							9,750	9,750
Number of consecutive semi-annual reduction in the total commitment																															11
Amount of semi-annual reduction in maximum borrowing capacity through the maturity date																															5,000
Period of commencement of consecutive semi annual reductions																															6 months
Interest rates
Effective Interest Rate (as a percent)	4.72%	4.10%	4.73%	4.58%
Range of Interest Rates (excluding impact of swaps and unused commitment fees) (as a percent)							3.19%	3.24%	3.19%	3.24%	4.31%	3.63%	4.38%	4.63%
Prepayment fee (as a percent)																				1.25%
Current interest payable	13,199		13,199																	13,199
Long-term interest payable					$ 13,199																$ 13,199