CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 263,196	$ 290,049	$ 379,951
Operating Expenses:
Voyage Expenses	192,082	209,347	295,678
Vessel Depreciation	25,388	17,929	20,254
Impairment Loss	0	25,430	2,899
Administrative and General Expenses	20,961	21,202	22,641
Gain on Dry Bulk Transaction	(18,844)	0	0
(Gain) Loss on Sale of Other Assets	0	(42)	2,209
Total Operating Expenses	219,587	273,866	343,681
Operating Income	43,609	16,183	36,270
Interest and Other:
Interest Expense	10,361	7,157	6,110
Derivative Loss	101	426	0
Loss (Gain) on Sale of Investment	747	(213)	(980)
Other Income from Vessel Financing	(2,653)	(2,335)	(655)
Investment (Income) Loss	(637)	(1,778)	72
Foreign Exchange Loss	3,051	8,196	0
Total Interest and Other Income	10,970	11,453	4,547
Income Before Provision (Benefit) for Income Taxes and Equity in Net (Loss) Income of Unconsolidated Entities	32,639	4,730	31,723
Provision (Benefit) for Income Taxes:
Current	680	692	306
Deferred	0	(1,982)	(3,845)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	680	(1,290)	(3,539)
Equity in Net (Loss) Income of Unconsolidated Entities (Net of Applicable Taxes)	(410)	9,282	6,959
Net Income	$ 31,549	$ 15,302	$ 42,221
Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Common Share:
Basic Earnings Per Common Share: (in dollars per share)	$ 4.42	$ 2.14	$ 5.84
Diluted Earnings Per Common Share: (in dollars per share)	$ 4.40	$ 2.12	$ 5.80
Weighted Average Shares of Common Stock Outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	7,131,820	7,158,439	7,224,748
Diluted (in shares)	7,176,647	7,231,178	7,282,119
Dividends Per Share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.500	$ 1.625	$ 2.000