Financial Instruments - Fair Value of Financial Instruments and Other Non-Financial Assets (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Cross currency swap agreement	$ (4,500)
Vessels held for sale	6,800	22,364
Investment in term loans	188,895	120,642
Loans to equity accounted investees and joint venture partners-Current	2,743	139,183
Loans to equity accounted investees and joint venture partners-Long-term	177,111	67,720
Long-term debt	(5,743,109)	(5,559,714)
Fair Value Asset (Liability) [Member] \| Level 1 [Member] \| Public [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Long-term debt	(1,072,211)	(949,326)
Fair Value Asset (Liability) [Member] \| Level 2 [Member] \| Private [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Long-term debt	(4,441,873)	(4,329,117)
Fair Value Asset (Liability) [Member] \| Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Investment in term loans	184,246	186,048
Loans to equity accounted investees and joint venture partners-Current	2,743	139,183
Fair Value Asset (Liability) [Member] \| Recurring [Member] \| Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, and marketable securities	1,076,022	1,178,118
Fair Value Asset (Liability) [Member] \| Recurring [Member] \| Level 2 [Member] \| Interest rate swap agreements [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Interest rate swap agreements-assets	118,683	165,688
Fair Value Asset (Liability) [Member] \| Recurring [Member] \| Level 2 [Member] \| Interest rate swap agreements 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Interest rate swap agreements-liabilities	(504,429)	(667,825)
Fair Value Asset (Liability) [Member] \| Recurring [Member] \| Level 2 [Member] \| Cross currency swap agreements [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Cross currency interest swap agreement	(40,963)	13,886
Fair Value Asset (Liability) [Member] \| Recurring [Member] \| Level 2 [Member] \| Foreign currency contracts [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Foreign currency contracts	(4,671)	2,885
Fair Value Asset (Liability) [Member] \| Non-recurring [Member] \| Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Vessels and equipment		287,983
Vessels held for sale	6,800	22,364
Carrying Amount Asset (Liability) [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Loans to equity accounted investees and joint venture partners-Long-term	177,111	67,720
Carrying Amount Asset (Liability) [Member] \| Level 1 [Member] \| Public [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Long-term debt	(1,025,778)	(914,338)
Carrying Amount Asset (Liability) [Member] \| Level 2 [Member] \| Private [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Long-term debt	(4,717,331)	(4,645,376)
Carrying Amount Asset (Liability) [Member] \| Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Investment in term loans	188,895	188,756
Loans to equity accounted investees and joint venture partners-Current	2,743	139,183
Carrying Amount Asset (Liability) [Member] \| Recurring [Member] \| Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, and marketable securities	1,076,022	1,178,118
Carrying Amount Asset (Liability) [Member] \| Recurring [Member] \| Level 2 [Member] \| Interest rate swap agreements [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Interest rate swap agreements-assets	118,683	165,688
Carrying Amount Asset (Liability) [Member] \| Recurring [Member] \| Level 2 [Member] \| Interest rate swap agreements 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Interest rate swap agreements-liabilities	(504,429)	(667,825)
Carrying Amount Asset (Liability) [Member] \| Recurring [Member] \| Level 2 [Member] \| Cross currency swap agreements [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Cross currency swap agreement	(40,963)	13,886
Carrying Amount Asset (Liability) [Member] \| Recurring [Member] \| Level 2 [Member] \| Foreign currency contracts [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Foreign currency contracts	(4,671)	2,885
Carrying Amount Asset (Liability) [Member] \| Non-recurring [Member] \| Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Vessels and equipment		287,983
Vessels held for sale	$ 6,800	$ 22,364

Property, plant and equipment that is held for sale apart from normal operations and anticipated to be sold in less than one year.

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Cash includes currency on hand as well as demand deposits with banks or financial institutions. It also includes other kinds of accounts that have the general characteristics of demand deposits in that the customer may deposit additional funds at any time and effectively may withdraw funds at any time without prior notice or penalty. Cash equivalents, excluding items classified as marketable securities, include short-term, highly liquid Investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash, and so near their maturity that they present minimal risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates. Generally, only investments with original maturities of three months or less qualify under that definition. Original maturity means original maturity to the entity holding the investment. For example, both a three-month US Treasury bill and a three-year Treasury note purchased three months from maturity qualify as cash equivalents. However, a Treasury note purchased three years ago does not become a cash equivalent when its remaining maturity is three months. Short-term investments, exclusive of cash equivalents, generally consist of marketable securities intended to be sold within one year (or the normal operating cycle if longer) and may include trading securities, available-for-sale securities, or held-to-maturity securities (if maturing within one year), as applicable.

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Amount of receivables due from an entity that is affiliated with the reporting entity by means of direct or indirect ownership, due within 1 year (or 1 business cycle).

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Amount of receivables due from an entity that is affiliated with the reporting entity by means of direct or indirect ownership, due after 1 year (or 1 business cycle).

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The aggregate amount of receivables to be collected from related parties where one party can exercise control or significant influence over another party; including affiliates, owners or officers and their immediate families, pension trusts, and so forth, at the financial statement date. which are usually due within one year (or one business cycle).

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- Definition

Fair value portion of liability contracts related to the exchange of different currencies, including, but not limited to, foreign currency options, forward (delivery or nondelivery) contracts, and swaps entered into.

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No definition available.

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Fair value as of the balance sheet date of all foreign currency derivative assets not designated as hedging instruments.

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Fair value as of the balance sheet date of all foreign currency derivatives not designated as hedging instruments.

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Fair value as of the balance sheet date of all derivative assets not designated as hedging instruments.

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Fair value as of the balance sheet date of all derivative liabilities not designated as hedging instruments.

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- Definition

Carrying amount of long-term debt, net of unamortized discount or premium, including current and noncurrent amounts. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.

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An amount representing an agreement for an unconditional promise by the maker to pay the Company (holder) a definite sum of money within one year from the balance sheet date (or the normal operating cycle, whichever is longer), net of any write-downs taken for collection uncertainty on the part of the holder. Such amount may include accrued interest receivable in accordance with the terms of the debt. The debt also may contain provisions and related items including a discount or premium, payable on demand, secured, or unsecured, interest bearing or noninterest bearing, among a myriad of other features and characteristics. This amount does not include amounts related to receivables held-for-sale.

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Fair value portion of physical assets used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services and not intended for resale. Examples include, but are not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, and furniture and fixtures.

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