Commitments and Contingencies (Brazilian Customs) - Additional Information (Detail) BRL in Millions, $ in Millions	1 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2011 BRL Vessel	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 BRL
Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Fines assessed	BRL 155	$ 39.0
Number of Tidewater vessels that the subsidiaries failed to obtain import licenses from	17
Fines assessed		$ 8.3	BRL 33

Number of vessels that subsidiaries failed to obtain import licenses.

No definition available.

Name:	tdw_NumberOfVesselsThatSubsidiariesFailedToObtainImportLicenses
Namespace Prefix:	tdw_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration