Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2011		Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2011		Dec. 31, 2011
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Line Items]
Percentage of completion to recognize expected profit	70.00%				70.00%
Revenues	$ 1,028,745,000	[1]	$ 879,894,000	[1]	$ 2,645,671,000	[1]	$ 2,628,935,000	[1]
Cost of operations	889,823,000		802,951,000		2,246,961,000		2,253,981,000
Restricted cash and cash equivalents, aggregate amount	23,074,000				23,074,000				21,962,000
Accounts receivable - other	63,774,000				63,774,000				53,386,000
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	125,317,000		74,683,000		335,225,000		167,129,000
Atlantic | Brazil
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Line Items]
changes in project estimates			28,000,000				35,000,000
Atlantic | Mexico
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Line Items]
changes in project estimates			10,000,000				10,000,000
Atlantic | Deferred profit recognition contracts
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Line Items]
Revenues	22,200,000		6,000,000		45,100,000		24,400,000
Cost of operations	22,200,000		6,000,000		45,100,000		24,400,000
Asia Pacific
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Line Items]
Revenues	468,200,000		528,453,000		1,103,699,000		1,551,099,000
changes in project estimates			7,000,000				7,000,000
Middle East
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Line Items]
Revenues	435,228,000		276,758,000		1,206,747,000		910,707,000
changes in project estimates			5,000,000				5,000,000
Consolidated Entities
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Line Items]
Revenues	7,000,000				45,000,000
Cost of operations	7,000,000				45,000,000
Unconsolidated joint ventures
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Line Items]
Revenues	9,000,000				14,000,000
Cost of operations	$ 9,000,000				$ 14,000,000
Multi Function Support Vessel
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Line Items]
Number of vessels held for sale					3
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
Minimum
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Line Items]
Equity method of accounting investment ownership	20.00%				20.00%
Maximum
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Line Items]
Equity method of accounting investment ownership	50.00%				50.00%

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