BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - Additional information (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012		Mar. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2011
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Line Items]
Percentage of completion to recognize expected profit	70.00%
Revenues	$ 727,678	[1]	$ 899,240	[1]
Cost of operations	597,434		747,225
Restricted cash and cash equivalents, aggregate amount	24,832				21,962
Deferred profit recognition contracts
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Line Items]
Number of projects accounted under deferred profit recognition policy	2
Atlantic
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Line Items]
Revenues	99,604		39,894
Atlantic | Deferred profit recognition contracts
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Line Items]
Revenues	10,000		7,900
Cost of operations	10,000		7,900
Charter Fleet Business
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Line Items]
Number of vessels	10
Secunda International Limited
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Line Items]
Number of vessels	14
Consolidated Entities
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Line Items]
Revenues	10,000
Cost of operations	10,000
Unconsolidated joint ventures
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Line Items]
Revenues	4,000
Cost of operations	$ 4,000
Minimum
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Line Items]
Equity method of accounting investment ownership	20.00%
Maximum
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Line Items]
Equity method of accounting investment ownership	50.00%

[1] Intersegment transactions included in revenues were not significant for either of the periods presented.