SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013 Segment Vessel	Dec. 31, 2012 Vessel	Dec. 31, 2011
Segment reporting [Abstract]
Number of reportable segments	2
Revenue and voyage expense recognition [Abstract]
Net gain on purchase and sale of bunker fuel	$ 567	$ 1,714	$ 2,653
Number of vessels in vessel pools	5	5
Other operating income [Abstract]
Other operating income recorded	121	265	527
Samsun [Member]
Other operating income [Abstract]
Other operating income recorded		263	527
Number of installments due		2	3
Baltic Trading Limited [Member]
Revenue and voyage expense recognition [Abstract]
Number of vessels in vessel pools	4
Korea Line Corporation [Member]
Other operating income [Abstract]
Other operating income recorded	21	2
Number of shares received related to the rehabilitation plan (in shares)	3,355
KLC Rehabilitation Plan [Member]
Other operating income [Abstract]
Other operating income recorded	$ 100
Number of shares received related to the rehabilitation plan (in shares)	3,355
Spot Market-Related Time Charter Agreement [Member]
Revenue and voyage expense recognition [Abstract]
Number of vessels under spot market-related time charters which include a profit-sharing element	4
Floor price (in dollars per unit)	$ 9
Ceiling price (in dollars per unit)	$ 14
Allocation of excess profit sharing amount (in hundredths)	50.00%
Percentage of average of the daily rates of BHSI used to determine charter agreement rates (in hundredths)	115.00%