Variable interest entities (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2013
Variable interest entity, not primary beneficiary \| Rail joint venture in Peru
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Ownership percentage	50.00%
Triggering event for contingent guarantees, ownership percentage falls below	50.00%
Long-term debt default amount classified in current liabilities	$ 5,920
Variable interest entity, not primary beneficiary \| Rail joint venture in Peru \| Financial Guarantee Additional Debt 2017
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Debt obligations guaranteed	5,920
Variable interest entity, not primary beneficiary \| Rail joint venture in Peru \| Contingent Financial Guarantee Debt 2017
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Debt obligations guaranteed	7,755
Variable interest entity, not primary beneficiary \| Rail joint venture in Peru \| Guarantee of Governmental Concession
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Debt obligations guaranteed	$ 6,976
Charleston Center LLC \| Variable interest entity, primary beneficiary
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Ownership percentage	19.90%

Guarantor Obligations, Triggering Event, Ownership Percentage Falls Below 50%

No definition available.

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- Definition

Amount of outstanding long-term debt or borrowing associated with any securities or credit agreement for which there has been a default in principal, interest, sinking fund, or redemption provisions, or any breach of covenant that existed at the end of the period and subsequently has not been cured.

+ 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.(c))

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

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 08

-Paragraph c

-Article 4

+ Details

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- Definition

Maximum potential amount of future payments (undiscounted) the guarantor could be required to make under the guarantee or each group of similar guarantees before reduction for potential recoveries under recourse or collateralization provisions.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 460

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4

-Subparagraph (b)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6851643&loc=d3e12069-110248

+ Details

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- Details

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- Definition

Percentage of the Variable Interest Entity's (VIE) voting interest owned by (or beneficial interest in) the reporting entity (directly or indirectly).

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 810

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 5A

-Subparagraph (d)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28200181&loc=SL6759159-111685

+ Details

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