Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Cash flows from operating activities
Net loss	$ (11,866)	$ (13,114)	$ 21,882
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities
Depreciation and amortization	21,570	22,092	19,458
Deferred financing cost amortization	103	132	296
Bad debt expense (recoveries)	12	255	(285)
Deferred income taxes	(1,646)	5,192	4,959
Stock-based compensation	3,115	2,712	2,542
Loss (gain) on sale of property and equipment	1,822	60	(459)
Gain on bargain purchase from acquisition of a business	0	0	(1,589)
Excess tax benefit from stock option exercise	0	0	(96)
Change in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	(26,966)	26,135	(5,073)
Income tax receivable	10,888	(6,331)	(5,119)
Inventory	(497)	(370)	(1,519)
Note receivable	5	39	1,246
Prepaid expenses and other	(497)	(377)	(698)
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts	(4,133)	10,991	(13,733)
Accounts payable	18,826	(12,970)	(7,651)
Accrued liabilities	2,803	(2,728)	3,024
Income tax payable	252	(262)	(50)
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts, net	10,704	1,277	(3,241)
Deferred revenue	(57)	(57)	(55)
Net cash provided by operating activities	24,438	32,676	13,839
Cash flows from investing activities:
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	374	841	827
Purchase of property and equipment	(24,647)	(14,894)	(29,050)
Net cash used in investing activities	(33,273)	(14,053)	(95,755)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings from Credit Facility	18,000	0
Payments made on borrowings from Credit Facility	(5,379)	0
Contributions from noncontrolling interest	34	0	0
Exercise of stock options	298	185	669
Excess tax benefit from stock option exercise	0	0	96
Increase in loan costs	(13)	0	(411)
Purchase of shares into treasury	0	(3,003)	0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	12,940	(2,818)	354
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	4,105	15,805	(81,562)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	38,979	23,174	104,736
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	43,084	38,979	23,174
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information, cash paid during the period for:
Interest	697	212	547
Taxes (net of refunds)	(14,039)	(4,948)	12,149
Supplemental disclosure of non cash transaction:
Fair value of earnout from acquisition of business in Alaska	271	0	0
Acquisition of business in Alaska
Cash flows from investing activities:
Payments for acquisition of businesses	(9,000)	0	0
Acquisition of business in Pacific Northwest
Cash flows from investing activities:
Payments for acquisition of businesses	0	0	(6,653)
Acquisition of TW LaQuay Dredging
Cash flows from investing activities:
Payments for acquisition of businesses	$ 0	$ 0	$ (60,879)