FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS - Interest Rate Risk Management (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments location:
Unrealized net loss on qualifying cash flow hedging instruments	$ (1,822)	$ (6,832)	$ (19,462)
Interest rate swap \| Cash flow hedging
Mark-to-market swaps valuation:
Notional value	128,000	180,100
Designated as Hedging Instrument \| Interest rate swap \| Swap \| Cash flow hedging
Mark-to-market swaps valuation:
Notional value	128,021	180,100
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments location:
Amount of gain/(loss) recognized in OCI on derivative (effective portion)	4,147	1,547	1,024
Unrealized net loss on qualifying cash flow hedging instruments	(2,700)
Description of variable rate basis	LIBOR
Designated as Hedging Instrument \| Interest rate swap \| Swap \| Cash flow hedging \| Other financial Items, net
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments location:
Effective portion Gain/(loss) reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	(1,644)	0	0
Ineffective Portion	542	(535)	(632)
Designated as Hedging Instrument \| Interest rate swap \| Swap \| Cash flow hedging \| Gain on sale of Golar Maria [Member]
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments location:
Effective portion Gain/(loss) reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	2,370	0	0
Ineffective Portion	0	0	0
Designated as Hedging Instrument \| Interest rate swap \| Swap \| Cash flow hedging \| Minimum [Member]
Mark-to-market swaps valuation:
Fixed interest rate	3.57%	3.57%
Designated as Hedging Instrument \| Interest rate swap \| Swap \| Cash flow hedging \| Maximum [Member]
Mark-to-market swaps valuation:
Fixed interest rate	4.52%	4.52%
Designated as Hedging Instrument \| Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member] \| Swap \| Cash flow hedging
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments location:
Unrealized net loss on qualifying cash flow hedging instruments	$ 900	$ 0	$ 0

Aggregate notional amount specified by the derivative(s). Expressed as an absolute value.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Article 12

-Section 13

-Sentence Column B

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- Definition

Accumulated change, net of tax, in accumulated gains and losses from derivative instruments designated and qualifying as the effective portion of cash flow hedges. Includes an entity's share of an equity investee's Increase or Decrease in deferred hedging gains or losses.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 220

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 14A

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28358780&loc=SL7669686-108580

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 220

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 11

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28358780&loc=d3e637-108580

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 220

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 14

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28358780&loc=d3e681-108580

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 220

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 10A

-Subparagraph (d)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28358780&loc=SL7669646-108580

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7668309&loc=d3e80784-113994

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- Definition

The reference rate for the variable rate of the interest rate derivative, such as LIBOR or the US Treasury rate and the maturity of the reference rate used, such as three months or six months LIBOR.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Fixed interest rate related to the interest rate derivative.

+ References

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- Definition

The effective portion of net gain (loss) reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income into income on derivative instruments designated and qualifying as hedging instruments.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4C

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7476318&loc=SL5624171-113959

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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- Definition

The portion of gains and losses (net) on derivative instruments designated and qualifying as hedging instruments representing (a) the amount of the hedge ineffectiveness and (b) the amount, if any, excluded from the assessment of hedge effectiveness.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4C

-Subparagraph (d)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7476318&loc=SL5624171-113959

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 25

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (a)(1),(2)

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- Definition

The effective portion of gains and losses (net) on derivative instruments designated and qualifying as hedging instruments that was recognized in other comprehensive income during the current period.

+ References

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