CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited) [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 65,204	$ 64,334
Operating Expenses:
Voyage Expenses	50,826	48,990
Vessel Depreciation	6,357	5,374
Administrative and General Expenses	5,508	5,829
Gain on Dry Bulk Transaction	0	(18,714)
Gain on Sale of Other Assets	(3,799)	0
Total Operating Expenses	58,892	41,479
Operating Income	6,312	22,855
Interest and Other:
Interest Expense	2,727	2,290
Derivative Income	(149)	(121)
Gain on Sale of Investment	(42)	0
Other Income from Vessel Financing	(622)	(688)
Investment Income	(128)	(200)
Foreign Exchange Gain	(3,648)	(1,489)
Total Interest and Other Income	(1,862)	(208)
Income Before Provision for Income Taxes and Equity in Net (Loss) Income of Unconsolidated Entities	8,174	23,063
Provision for Income Taxes:
Current	168	207
State	0	1
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	168	208
Equity in Net (Loss) Income of Unconsolidated Entities (Net of Applicable Taxes)	(70)	1,225
Net Income	$ 7,936	$ 24,080
Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Common Share:
Basic Earnings Per Common Share: (in dollars per share)	$ 1.11	$ 3.33
Diluted Earnings Per Common Share: (in dollars per share)	$ 1.11	$ 3.32
Weighted Average Shares of Common Stock Outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	7,170,611	7,232,834
Diluted (in shares)	7,170,611	7,256,129
Dividends Per Share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.250	$ 0.375