Accumulated change in equity from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources, net of tax effect, at period end. Excludes Net Income (Loss), and accumulated changes in equity from transactions resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners. Includes foreign currency translation items, certain pension adjustments, unrealized gains and losses on certain investments in debt and equity securities, other than temporary impairment (OTTI) losses related to factors other than credit losses on available-for-sale and held-to-maturity debt securities that an entity does not intend to sell and it is not more likely than not that the entity will be required to sell before recovery of the amortized cost basis, as well as changes in the fair value of derivatives related to the effective portion of a designated cash flow hedge.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 11
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36458714&loc=d3e637-108580

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 14
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36458714&loc=d3e681-108580

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 14A
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36458714&loc=SL7669686-108580

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 31
-Article 5

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 04
-Article 3

INVESTMENTS, Change in accounting method retrospectivley applied (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Income Statement [Abstract]
Equity (Loss) Income	$ (2,462)		$ 40
Net Income (Loss)	$ 114,627	$ (13,166)	$ (105,417)
Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted	$ 1.29		$ (1.64)
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Total Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	$ 114,493		$ (105,493)
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]
Investment in Nordic American Offshore Ltd	64,877
Total Assets	1,244,626
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	(972)
Accumulated Deficit	0
Total Liabilities and Shareholders Equity	1,244,626
Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Equity Loss (Income)	(2,462)		0
Return on Investment	0		0
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities	$ 174,391		$ (47,265)
A previously reported [Member]
Income Statement [Abstract]
Dividends Received		252
Equity (Loss) Income		1,665
Net Income (Loss)		$ (12,808)
Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted		$ (0.15)
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Unrealized Gain (Losses) on Available-for-Sale Securities		$ (7,194)
Total Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)		(20,680)
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]
Investment in Nordic American Offshore Ltd		55,223
Total Assets		1,169,024
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss		(8,032)
Accumulated Deficit		(12,808)
Total Liabilities and Shareholders Equity		1,169,024
Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Equity Loss (Income)		0
Return on Investment		0
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities		57,479
Adjustments [Member]
Income Statement [Abstract]
Dividends Received		(252)
Equity (Loss) Income		(106)
Net Income (Loss)		$ (358)
Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted		$ 0
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Unrealized Gain (Losses) on Available-for-Sale Securities		$ 7,194
Total Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)		7,194
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]
Investment in Nordic American Offshore Ltd		6,836
Total Assets		6,836
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss		7,194
Accumulated Deficit		(358)
Total Liabilities and Shareholders Equity		6,836
Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Equity Loss (Income)		(1,497)
Return on Investment		1,929
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities		0
As adjusted [Member]
Income Statement [Abstract]
Dividends Received		0
Equity (Loss) Income		1,559
Net Income (Loss)		$ (13,166)
Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted		$ (0.15)
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Unrealized Gain (Losses) on Available-for-Sale Securities		$ 0
Total Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)		(13,844)
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]
Investment in Nordic American Offshore Ltd		62,059
Total Assets		1,175,860
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss		(838)
Accumulated Deficit		(13,166)
Total Liabilities and Shareholders Equity		1,175,860
Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Equity Loss (Income)		(1,497)
Return on Investment		1,929
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities		$ 57,479