SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011 Entity	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Line Items]
Number of business segments	5
Fair values of aggregate debt and credit facility	$ 2,811,700,000	$ 1,897,500,000
Capitalized interest	7,600,000	2,500,000	3,400,000
Income tax benefits	192,000	919,000	343,000
Noncontrolling interest percentage	1.50%
Customer Contracts
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Line Items]
Weighted average contractual lives (in years)	5
Customer Relationships
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Line Items]
Estimated recovery period, minimum (in years)	12
Estimated recovery period, maximum (in years)	20
Puerto Rico Terminal
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Line Items]
Uncertain tax position liability		17,700,000
Maximum
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Line Items]
Cash equivalents, original maturities	3 months
Buckeye Development and Logistics I Limited Liability Company
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Line Items]
Valuation allowance against deferred tax asset	300,000
Buckeye Caribbean Terminals Limited Liability Company
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Line Items]
Deferred tax asset	35,000,000	35,000,000
Deferred tax asset, property, plant and equipment	17,200,000	17,200,000
Deferred tax asset, net operating loss carryforwards	$ 15,200,000	$ 15,200,000
Buckeye Caribbean Terminals Limited Liability Company | Maximum
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Line Items]
Deferred tax asset, net operating loss carryforwards, expiration date	2020
Buckeye Caribbean Terminals Limited Liability Company | Minimum
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Line Items]
Deferred tax asset, net operating loss carryforwards, expiration date	2018
Vopak Bahamas B.V.
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Line Items]
Noncontrolling interest percentage	20.00%
Capitalized Interest Costs
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Line Items]
Weighted average rate used to capitalize interest on borrowed funds	4.20%	4.80%	5.40%