CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY (USD $) In Thousands	Total	Common Stock	Capital In Excess of Par Value	Retained Earnings	Treasury Stock	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Stockholders' Equity	Non- Controlling Interest (NCI)
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2008	$ 1,316,513	$ 234,174	$ 1,252,848	$ 564,591	$ (63,026)	$ (672,415)	$ 1,316,172	$ 341
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2008		234,174,088
Net income	390,450			387,056			387,056	3,394
Other Comprehensive Income, net of tax	59,619					59,418	59,418	201
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		285,318
Exercise of stock options	1,042	285	570		187		1,042
Excess tax benefits on stock options	(2,324)		(2,324)				(2,324)
Contributions to thrift plan (in shares)		941,348
Contributions to thrift plan	15,364	941	14,423				15,364
Share vesting (in shares)		1,518,650
Share vesting		1,519	(1,519)
Stock-based compensation charges	34,914		34,914				34,914
Purchase of treasury shares	(6,531)				(6,531)		(6,531)
Sale of subsidiary shares to NCI			2,086				2,086	(2,086)
Acquisition of NCI	24,109							24,109
Distributions to NCI	(56)							(56)
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2009	1,833,100	236,919	1,300,998	951,647	(69,370)	(612,997)	1,807,197	25,903
Ending Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2009		236,919,404
Net income	227,712			201,666			201,666	26,046
Other Comprehensive Income, net of tax	4,824					4,824	4,824
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		1,039,114
Exercise of stock options	2,742	1,040	2,352		(650)		2,742
Excess tax benefits on stock options	2,192		2,192				2,192
Contributions to thrift plan (in shares)		282,022
Contributions to thrift plan	6,923	282	6,641				6,923
Share vesting (in shares)		2,550,933
Share vesting	22	2,550	(2,528)				22
Stock-based compensation charges	50,888		50,888				50,888
Purchase of treasury shares	(15,715)				(15,715)		(15,715)
Acquisition of NCI	10,007		(1,786)				(1,786)	11,793
Spin-off of The Babcock & Wilcox Company	(610,428)		(1,441)	(1,052,940)		444,456	(609,925)	(503)
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2010	1,512,267	240,791	1,357,316	100,373	(85,735)	(163,717)	1,449,028	63,239
Ending Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2010		240,791,473
Net income	151,355			138,730			138,730	12,625
Other Comprehensive Income, net of tax	62,419					61,687	61,687	732
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		466,954
Exercise of stock options	2,460	467	1,993				2,460
Share vesting (in shares)		1,157,997
Share vesting		1,158	(1,158)
Stock-based compensation charges	17,825		17,825				17,825
Purchase of treasury shares	(10,092)				(10,092)		(10,092)
Distributions to NCI	(2,522)							(2,522)
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	$ 1,733,712	$ 242,416	$ 1,375,976	$ 239,103	$ (95,827)	$ (102,030)	$ 1,659,638	$ 74,074
Ending Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2011		242,416,424