Other information (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

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:

	2016		2015
Due to related parties (note 4)	$	4,175	$	1,765
Accrued interest		16,270		19,841
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities		41,712		54,780
	$	62,157	$	76,386

Schedule of Supplemental Cash Flow Information

(b) Supplemental cash flow information:

	2016		2015		2014
Interest paid on debt	$	109,272	$	97,724	$	91,450
Interest received		8,041		10,853		1,211
Undrawn credit facility fee paid		2,856		2,865		3,512
Non-cash transactions:
Dividend reinvestment		4,359		38,862		64,697
Arrangement and transaction fees    (note 15)		6,393		9,191		6,753
Acquisition of time charters through    novation from GCI (note 4(c))		16,200		—		—
Recognition of fair value of bareboat charters    (note 4(c))		16,200		—		—
Acquisition of GCI Subsidiaries through    settlement of loans to affiliate		107,500		—		—
Capital contribution through settlement of    loans to affiliate		—		19,444		15,000
Dividends on Series A preferred shares		—		—		3,395
Loan repayment for vessels    under construction		—		—		29,680
Long-term debt for vessels    under construction		—		77,625		8,300
Vessel reallocation		—		—		11,533
Fair value of financial instruments		—		—		50,278