SEGMENT INFORMATION (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013 Segment	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
SEGMENT INFORMATION [Abstract]
Number of operating segments									2
Voyage Revenue from External Customers [Abstract]
Total consolidated voyage revenue from external customers									$ 224,179	$ 223,159	$ 388,929
Intersegment revenue [Abstract]
Total consolidated intersegment revenue	81,785	59,433	45,760	40,486	49,247	54,431	62,931	59,844	227,464	226,453	392,214
Depreciation and amortization [Abstract]
Total consolidated depreciation and amortization									140,743	139,063	136,203
Interest expense [Abstract]
Total consolidated interest expense									88,216	87,558	86,722
Net (loss) income [Abstract]
Total consolidated net (loss) income	(19,155)	(36,976)	(48,940)	(51,950)	(48,864)	(42,037)	(30,492)	(36,383)	(157,021)	(157,776)	25,068
Total assets [Abstract]
Total consolidated assets	2,957,254				2,843,371				2,957,254	2,843,371
Expenditures for vessels [Abstract]
Total consolidated expenditures for vessels									145,350	1,155	130,328
Intersegment Revenue [Member]
Intersegment revenue [Abstract]
Total consolidated intersegment revenue									0	0	0
Operating Segments [Member]
Voyage Revenue from External Customers [Abstract]
Total consolidated voyage revenue from external customers									224,179	223,159	388,929
Depreciation and amortization [Abstract]
Total consolidated depreciation and amortization									140,908	139,219	136,359
Interest expense [Abstract]
Total consolidated interest expense									88,216	87,558	86,722
Net (loss) income [Abstract]
Total consolidated net (loss) income									(155,446)	(156,565)	27,478
Total assets [Abstract]
Total consolidated assets	2,962,178				2,846,856				2,962,178	2,846,856
Expenditures for vessels [Abstract]
Total consolidated expenditures for vessels									146,790	1,155	131,406
Operating Segments [Member] | Intersegment Revenue [Member]
Intersegment revenue [Abstract]
Total consolidated intersegment revenue									4,571	2,816	3,024
GS&T [Member]
Voyage Revenue from External Customers [Abstract]
Total consolidated voyage revenue from external customers									188,206	195,855	345,437
Depreciation and amortization [Abstract]
Total consolidated depreciation and amortization									125,344	124,405	121,590
Interest expense [Abstract]
Total consolidated interest expense									83,761	83,306	82,300
Net (loss) income [Abstract]
Total consolidated net (loss) income									(144,054)	(139,295)	27,908
Total assets [Abstract]
Total consolidated assets	2,404,811				2,482,486				2,404,811	2,482,486
Expenditures for vessels [Abstract]
Total consolidated expenditures for vessels									192	1,155	128,836
GS&T [Member] | Intersegment Revenue [Member]
Intersegment revenue [Abstract]
Total consolidated intersegment revenue									4,571	2,816	3,024
Baltic Trading [Member]
Voyage Revenue from External Customers [Abstract]
Total consolidated voyage revenue from external customers									35,973	27,304	43,492
Intersegment revenue [Abstract]
Percentage of purchase fee capitalized as part of vessel assets (in hundredths)									1.00%
Depreciation and amortization [Abstract]
Total consolidated depreciation and amortization									15,564	14,814	14,769
Interest expense [Abstract]
Total consolidated interest expense									4,455	4,252	4,422
Net (loss) income [Abstract]
Total consolidated net (loss) income									(11,392)	(17,270)	(430)
Total assets [Abstract]
Total consolidated assets	557,367				364,370				557,367	364,370
Expenditures for vessels [Abstract]
Total consolidated expenditures for vessels									146,598	0	2,570
Baltic Trading [Member] | Intersegment Revenue [Member]
Intersegment revenue [Abstract]
Total consolidated intersegment revenue									0	0	0
Intersegment Elimination [Member]
Voyage Revenue from External Customers [Abstract]
Total consolidated voyage revenue from external customers									0	0	0
Depreciation and amortization [Abstract]
Total consolidated depreciation and amortization									(165)	(156)	(156)
Interest expense [Abstract]
Total consolidated interest expense									0	0	0
Net (loss) income [Abstract]
Total consolidated net (loss) income									1,575	1,211	2,410
Total assets [Abstract]
Total consolidated assets	(4,924)				(3,485)				(4,924)	(3,485)
Expenditures for vessels [Abstract]
Total consolidated expenditures for vessels									(1,440)	0	(1,078)
Intersegment Elimination [Member] | Intersegment Revenue [Member]
Intersegment revenue [Abstract]
Total consolidated intersegment revenue									$ (4,571)	$ (2,816)	$ (3,024)