Vessels, Property, and Other Equipment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Vessels, property, and other equipment		$ 322,075	$ 561,183
Less: Accumulated depreciation		(133,498)	(186,450)
Total Vessels, Property, and Other Equipment, net		188,577	374,733
Depreciation expense		23,002	26,984
Incentive received from the State of Louisiana for the construction of office building		5,200
Amount spent on the construction of building		9,800
Amount billed to the State of Louisiana toward the building incentive		5,200
Amount received from the state of Louisiana		591	4,579
Impairment charges of assets held for sale		(154,463)	(38,213)
Leasehold Improvements [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Vessels, property, and other equipment		26,345	26,348
Accelerated depreciation expense		900
Furniture And Equipment [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Vessels, property, and other equipment		7,690	10,461
Construction in Progress [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Vessels, property, and other equipment		1,775	2,371
Assets Held-for-sale [Member] | Building [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Vessels, property, and other equipment	[1]		1,354
Impairment charges of assets held for sale		4,700
Assets Held-for-sale [Member] | Land [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Vessels, property, and other equipment	[1]		623
Vessels [Member] | Pure Car Truck Carriers [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Vessels, property, and other equipment		84,112	190,469
Vessels [Member] | Special Purpose vessels [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Vessels, property, and other equipment		46,738	59,481
Vessels [Member] | Coal Carrier [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Vessels, property, and other equipment		92,771	92,771
Vessels [Member] | Bulk Carriers [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Vessels, property, and other equipment		30,940	118,732
Vessels [Member] | Tug and Barge Units [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Vessels, property, and other equipment		$ 31,704	$ 58,573

[1] Included in assets held for sale at December 31, 2015