GUARANTORS OF SECURITIES Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows (Details) - USD ($)  $ in Thousands  | 
 | 
 | 
12 Months Ended | 
Dec. 01, 2015  | 
Mar. 31, 2014  | 
Dec. 31, 2015  | 
Dec. 31, 2014  | 
Dec. 31, 2013  | 
| Condensed Cash Flow Statements, Captions [Line Items] | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Net cash provided by operating activities | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
$ 44,456
 | 
$ 78,286
 | 
$ 64,371
 | 
| Cash flows from investing activities: | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Purchases of property and equipment | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
(60,050)
 | 
(106,732)
 | 
(110,105)
 | 
| Proceeds from disposition of property and equipment | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
25,328
 | 
7,051
 | 
65,151
 | 
| Cash settlements on forward contracts, net | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
(1,103)
 | 
(1,545)
 | 
0
 | 
| Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
(1,747)
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
| Investments in and advances to equity investees | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
(36)
 | 
(125)
 | 
0
 | 
| Proceeds from sale of FBO | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
14,252
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
| Principal payments on notes due from equity investees | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
688
 | 
638
 | 
863
 | 
| Principal payments on third party notes receivable | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
52
 | 
460
 | 
632
 | 
| Escrow deposits, net | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
(191)
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
| Repayment of intercompany debt | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
0
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Proceeds from sale of interest in equity investees | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
0
 | 
6,381
 | 
0
 | 
| Net cash used in investing activities | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
(22,807)
 | 
(93,872)
 | 
(43,459)
 | 
| Cash flows from financing activities: | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Proceeds from Revolving Credit Facility | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
60,000
 | 
30,000
 | 
55,000
 | 
| Long-term debt issuance costs | 
$ (100)
 | 
$ (2,400)
 | 
(71)
 | 
(2,446)
 | 
0
 | 
| Payments on long-term debt | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
(57,925)
 | 
(2,885)
 | 
(52,788)
 | 
| Extinguishment of long-term debt | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
(46,920)
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
| Dividends paid on Series A preferred stock | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
(4,953)
 | 
| Proceeds and tax benefits from share award plans | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
1,096
 | 
1,458
 | 
527
 | 
| Tax expense on vested restricted stock | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
(127)
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
| Purchase of treasury shares | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
(2,079)
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
| Repayment of intercompany debt | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
| Proceeds from SEACOR on the settlement of stock options | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
706
 | 
| Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
(46,026)
 | 
26,127
 | 
(1,508)
 | 
| Effects of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
(2,120)
 | 
(1,009)
 | 
426
 | 
| Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
(26,497)
 | 
9,532
 | 
19,830
 | 
| Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
40,867
 | 
31,335
 | 
11,505
 | 
| Cash and cash equivalents, end of year | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
14,370
 | 
40,867
 | 
31,335
 | 
| Parent | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Condensed Cash Flow Statements, Captions [Line Items] | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Net cash provided by operating activities | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
(8,916)
 | 
(8,154)
 | 
22,377
 | 
| Cash flows from investing activities: | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Purchases of property and equipment | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
| Proceeds from disposition of property and equipment | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
| Cash settlements on forward contracts, net | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
 
 | 
| Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
0
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Investments in and advances to equity investees | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
 
 | 
| Proceeds from sale of FBO | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
0
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Principal payments on notes due from equity investees | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
| Principal payments on third party notes receivable | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
| Escrow deposits, net | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
0
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Repayment of intercompany debt | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
0
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Proceeds from sale of interest in equity investees | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
0
 | 
 
 | 
| Net cash used in investing activities | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
| Cash flows from financing activities: | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Proceeds from Revolving Credit Facility | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
| Long-term debt issuance costs | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
 
 | 
| Payments on long-term debt | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
| Extinguishment of long-term debt | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
0
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Dividends paid on Series A preferred stock | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
0
 | 
| Proceeds and tax benefits from share award plans | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
| Tax expense on vested restricted stock | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
0
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Purchase of treasury shares | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
0
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Repayment of intercompany debt | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
| Proceeds from SEACOR on the settlement of stock options | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
0
 | 
| Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
| Effects of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
| Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
(8,916)
 | 
(8,154)
 | 
22,377
 | 
| Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
16,481
 | 
24,635
 | 
2,258
 | 
| Cash and cash equivalents, end of year | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
7,565
 | 
16,481
 | 
24,635
 | 
| Guarantors | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Condensed Cash Flow Statements, Captions [Line Items] | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Net cash provided by operating activities | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
38,111
 | 
85,539
 | 
41,386
 | 
| Cash flows from investing activities: | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Purchases of property and equipment | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
(60,046)
 | 
(106,732)
 | 
(110,105)
 | 
| Proceeds from disposition of property and equipment | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
37,098
 | 
7,051
 | 
65,151
 | 
| Cash settlements on forward contracts, net | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
(1,103)
 | 
(1,545)
 | 
 
 | 
| Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
0
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Investments in and advances to equity investees | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
(36)
 | 
(125)
 | 
 
 | 
| Proceeds from sale of FBO | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
0
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Principal payments on notes due from equity investees | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
688
 | 
638
 | 
863
 | 
| Principal payments on third party notes receivable | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
52
 | 
460
 | 
632
 | 
| Escrow deposits, net | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
(1)
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Repayment of intercompany debt | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
14,062
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Proceeds from sale of interest in equity investees | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
6,381
 | 
 
 | 
| Net cash used in investing activities | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
(9,286)
 | 
(93,872)
 | 
(43,459)
 | 
| Cash flows from financing activities: | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Proceeds from Revolving Credit Facility | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
| Long-term debt issuance costs | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
(71)
 | 
0
 | 
 
 | 
| Payments on long-term debt | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
(2,458)
 | 
(2,885)
 | 
(2,788)
 | 
| Extinguishment of long-term debt | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
0
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Dividends paid on Series A preferred stock | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
0
 | 
| Proceeds and tax benefits from share award plans | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
| Tax expense on vested restricted stock | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
0
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Purchase of treasury shares | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
0
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Repayment of intercompany debt | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
(43,030)
 | 
29,012
 | 
1,280
 | 
| Proceeds from SEACOR on the settlement of stock options | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
0
 | 
| Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
(45,559)
 | 
26,127
 | 
(1,508)
 | 
| Effects of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
(2,120)
 | 
(1,009)
 | 
426
 | 
| Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
(18,854)
 | 
16,785
 | 
(3,155)
 | 
| Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
22,188
 | 
5,403
 | 
8,558
 | 
| Cash and cash equivalents, end of year | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
3,334
 | 
22,188
 | 
5,403
 | 
| Non-guarantors | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Condensed Cash Flow Statements, Captions [Line Items] | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Net cash provided by operating activities | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
15,261
 | 
901
 | 
608
 | 
| Cash flows from investing activities: | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Purchases of property and equipment | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
(11,774)
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
| Proceeds from disposition of property and equipment | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
| Cash settlements on forward contracts, net | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
 
 | 
| Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
(1,747)
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Investments in and advances to equity investees | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
 
 | 
| Proceeds from sale of FBO | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
0
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Principal payments on notes due from equity investees | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
| Principal payments on third party notes receivable | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
| Escrow deposits, net | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
0
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Repayment of intercompany debt | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
0
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Proceeds from sale of interest in equity investees | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
0
 | 
 
 | 
| Net cash used in investing activities | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
(13,521)
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
| Cash flows from financing activities: | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Proceeds from Revolving Credit Facility | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
| Long-term debt issuance costs | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
 
 | 
| Payments on long-term debt | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
(467)
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
| Extinguishment of long-term debt | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
0
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Dividends paid on Series A preferred stock | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
0
 | 
| Proceeds and tax benefits from share award plans | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
| Tax expense on vested restricted stock | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
0
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Purchase of treasury shares | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
0
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Repayment of intercompany debt | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
| Proceeds from SEACOR on the settlement of stock options | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
0
 | 
| Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
(467)
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
| Effects of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
| Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
1,273
 | 
901
 | 
608
 | 
| Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
2,198
 | 
1,297
 | 
689
 | 
| Cash and cash equivalents, end of year | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
3,471
 | 
2,198
 | 
1,297
 | 
| Eliminations | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Condensed Cash Flow Statements, Captions [Line Items] | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Net cash provided by operating activities | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
| Cash flows from investing activities: | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Purchases of property and equipment | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
11,770
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
| Proceeds from disposition of property and equipment | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
(11,770)
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
| Cash settlements on forward contracts, net | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
 
 | 
| Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
0
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Investments in and advances to equity investees | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
 
 | 
| Proceeds from sale of FBO | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
14,252
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Principal payments on notes due from equity investees | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
| Principal payments on third party notes receivable | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
| Escrow deposits, net | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
(190)
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Repayment of intercompany debt | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
(14,062)
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Proceeds from sale of interest in equity investees | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
0
 | 
 
 | 
| Net cash used in investing activities | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
| Cash flows from financing activities: | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Proceeds from Revolving Credit Facility | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
60,000
 | 
30,000
 | 
55,000
 | 
| Long-term debt issuance costs | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
0
 | 
(2,446)
 | 
 
 | 
| Payments on long-term debt | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
(55,000)
 | 
0
 | 
(50,000)
 | 
| Extinguishment of long-term debt | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
(46,920)
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Dividends paid on Series A preferred stock | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
(4,953)
 | 
| Proceeds and tax benefits from share award plans | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
1,096
 | 
1,458
 | 
527
 | 
| Tax expense on vested restricted stock | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
(127)
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Purchase of treasury shares | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
(2,079)
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
| Repayment of intercompany debt | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
43,030
 | 
(29,012)
 | 
(1,280)
 | 
| Proceeds from SEACOR on the settlement of stock options | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
706
 | 
| Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
| Effects of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
| Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
| Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
0
 | 
| Cash and cash equivalents, end of year | 
 
 | 
 
 | 
$ 0
 | 
$ 0
 | 
$ 0
 |