Other information (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Additional Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities

(a) Accounts payable and accrued liabilities:

The principal components of accounts payable and accrued liabilities are:

	2015		2014
Due to related parties (note 3)	$	1,765	$	6,788
Accrued interest		19,841		20,723
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities		54,780		37,697
	$	76,386	$	65,208

Schedule of Supplemental Cash Flow Information

(b) Supplemental cash flow information:

	2015		2014		2013
Interest paid on debt	$	97,724	$	91,450	$	59,999
Interest received		10,853		1,211		1,265
Undrawn credit facility fee paid		2,865		3,512		1,656
Non-cash transactions:
Long-term debt for vessels    under construction		77,625		8,300		54,080
Dividends on Series A preferred shares		—		3,395		38,390
Dividend reinvestment		38,862		64,697		31,961
Loan repayment for vessels    under construction		—		29,680		6,560
Arrangement and transaction fees    (note 12)		9,191		6,753		3,342
Vessel reallocation		—		11,533		—
Fair value of financial instruments		—		50,278		—
Capital contribution through settlement of    loans to affiliate		19,444		15,000		—