Income Taxes - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Income Taxes [Line Items]
State income tax expense	$ 198
Goodwill generated from amortization of tax goodwill from acquisitions	645
Income tax expense	1,295	1,390	827
Alternative minimum tax	340	308
Change in total valuation allowance	1,048	2,980	621
Tax benefits associated with the exercise of SARs, stock options and the vesting of RSUs	4,759	4,228
Earnings related to deferred income tax		2,455
Income tax examinations, year	2010
Interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions	0	0	0
Federal and State Capital Loss [Member]
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Net operating loss carryforwards	7,078	15,898
Net operating loss carryforwards expiration date	2032
Foreign Tax Authority [Member]
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Net operating loss carryforwards	5,944	5,650
Net operating loss carryforwards expiration date	2033
ORBCOMM Japan [Member]
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Earnings related to deferred income tax	946
ORBCOMM Japan [Member]
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Foreign jurisdiction	452
Income tax expense		1,137
Alternative minimum tax		$ 253
Acquired goodwill [Member]
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Goodwill amortization period	15 years