Capital Lease Obligations and Restricted Cash (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Capital Lease Obligations
Total	$ 647,047	$ 738,134
Less current portion	47,203	267,382
Long-term portion	599,844	470,752
RasGas II LNG Carriers [Member]
Capital Lease Obligations
Total	471,397	470,752
Spanish-Flagged LNG Carrier [Member]
Capital Lease Obligations
Total		81,881
Suezmax Tankers [Member]
Capital Lease Obligations
Total	$ 175,650	$ 185,501

Amount equal to the present value (the principal) at the beginning of the lease term of minimum lease payments during the lease term (excluding that portion of the payments representing executory costs such as insurance, maintenance, and taxes to be paid by the lessor, together with any profit thereon) net of payments or other amounts applied to the principal, through the balance sheet date and due to be paid within one year (or one operating cycle, if longer) of the balance sheet date.

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Amount equal to the present value (the principal) at the beginning of the lease term of minimum lease payments during the lease term (excluding that portion of the payments representing executory costs such as insurance, maintenance, and taxes to be paid by the lessor, together with any profit thereon) net of payments or other amounts applied to the principal, through the balance sheet date and due to be paid more than one year (or one operating cycle, if longer) after the balance sheet date.

+ References+ Details