Significant Components of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Deferred tax assets:
Pension liability	$ 4,030	$ 3,093
Accrued liabilities for incentive compensation	8,762	23,664
Net operating loss carryforward	128,654	60,172
State tax credits and net operating loss carryforward	18,888	25,439
Long-term contracts	31,857	9,820
Other	5,316	5,629
Total deferred tax assets	197,507	127,817
Valuation allowance for deferred tax assets	(160,266)	(95,734)
Deferred tax assets	37,241	32,083
Deferred tax liabilities:
Property, plant and equipment	14,223	16,326
Prepaid drydock	8,018	7,859
Investments in joint ventures and affiliated companies	14,810	10,630
Unrealized exchange gains and other	3,410	2,993
Total deferred tax liabilities	40,461	37,808
Net deferred tax liability	(3,220)	(5,725)
Deferred tax assets and liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets include:
Current deferred tax assets	11,931	10,323
Noncurrent deferred tax assets	6,227
Total deferred tax assets, net	18,158	10,323
Current deferred tax liabilities	13,187	12,849
Noncurrent deferred tax liabilities	8,191	3,199
Total deferred tax liabilities, net	21,378	16,048
Net deferred tax liability	$ (3,220)	$ (5,725)