CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 2,658,932	$ 3,641,624	$ 3,445,110
Costs and Expenses:
Cost of operations	2,801,426	3,100,009	2,980,390
Selling, general and administrative expenses	201,171	205,974	212,002
Loss on asset impairments	84,482	0	5,488
Gain on asset disposals	(15,200)	(405)	(8,478)
Restructuring charges	35,727
Total Costs and Expenses	3,107,606	3,305,578	3,189,402
Equity in Loss of Unconsolidated Affiliates	(16,116)	(16,719)	(4,985)
Operating Income (Loss)	(464,790)	319,327	250,723
Other Income (Expense):
Interest income-net	1,353	4,656	1,319
Gain (loss) on foreign currency-net	16,872	20,142	1,234
Other income (expense)-net	(2,339)	(995)	(1,985)
Total Other Income (Expense)	15,886	23,803	568
Income (loss) from continuing operations before provision for income taxes, discontinued operations and noncontrolling interest	(448,904)	343,130	251,291
Provision for Income Taxes	49,051	129,204	87,124
Income (loss) from continuing operations before discontinued operations and noncontrolling interest	(497,955)	213,926	164,167
Gain (loss) on disposal of discontinued operations		257	(21,934)
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax		3,240	9,122
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax		3,497	(12,812)
Net Income (Loss)	(497,955)	217,423	151,355
Less: net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	18,958	10,770	12,625
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to McDermott International, Inc.	$ (516,913)	$ 206,653	$ 138,730
Basic:
Income (loss) from continuing operations, less noncontrolling interest	$ (2.19)	$ 0.86	$ 0.65
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax		$ 0.01	$ (0.05)
Net Income	$ (2.19)	$ 0.88	$ 0.59
Diluted:
Income (loss) from continuing operations, less noncontrolling interest	$ (2.19)	$ 0.86	$ 0.64
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax		$ 0.01	$ (0.05)
Net Income (Loss)	$ (2.19)	$ 0.87	$ 0.59
Shares Used in the Computation of Earnings per Share:
Basic	236,514,584	235,638,422	234,598,901
Diluted	236,514,584	237,619,688	237,040,507