v2.4.1.9

Related party and shareholder transactions (Revenues - related parties) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Proceeds from shareholder loan	$ 600us-gaap_ProceedsFromRelatedPartyDebt
Loan from a shareholder	100us-gaap_DueToOfficersOrStockholdersCurrent
Sun Zone Investments Limited [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Proceeds from shareholder loan	600us-gaap_ProceedsFromRelatedPartyDebt / us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis = sgoc_SunZoneInvestmentsLimitedMember
Payments on loan from a shareholder	500us-gaap_RepaymentsOfRelatedPartyDebt / us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis = sgoc_SunZoneInvestmentsLimitedMember
Loan from a shareholder	$ 100us-gaap_DueToOfficersOrStockholdersCurrent / us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis = sgoc_SunZoneInvestmentsLimitedMember
Sun Zone Investments Limited [Member] | Mr. Tin Man [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Ownership percentage	100.00%us-gaap_MinorityInterestOwnershipPercentageByParent / us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis = sgoc_SunZoneInvestmentsLimitedMember / us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis = us-gaap_BoardOfDirectorsChairmanMember

X

- Definition

Amounts due to recorded owners or owners with a beneficial interest of more than 10 percent of the voting interests or officers of the company. Used to reflect the current portion of the liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer).

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 235

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(k)(1))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690



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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 850

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (d)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6457730&loc=d3e39549-107864



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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 08

-Paragraph k

-Subparagraph 1

-Article 4



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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19

-Subparagraph a

-Article 5



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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(a))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682



Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Paragraph 12

-Subparagraph a(1)

-Article 6

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DueToOfficersOrStockholdersCurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

The parent entity's interest in net assets of the subsidiary, expressed as a percentage.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_MinorityInterestOwnershipPercentageByParent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

The cash inflow from a long-term borrowing made 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. Alternate caption: Proceeds from Advances from Affiliates.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Financing Activities

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6513228



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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 14

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3255-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProceedsFromRelatedPartyDebt
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

The cash outflow for the payment of a long-term borrowing made from a related party 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. Alternate caption: Payments for Advances from Affiliates.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 15

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3291-108585



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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Financing Activities

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6513228

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RepaymentsOfRelatedPartyDebt
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis=sgoc_SunZoneInvestmentsLimitedMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: