<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-11-14</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000785186</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>DURATEK INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>DRTK</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001276922</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>TONTINE CAPITAL PARTNERS L P</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>55 RAILROAD AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>3RD FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GREENWICH,</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06830</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $0.01 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-11-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1600</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>15.02</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1576237</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This report is filed by Tontine Capital Partners, L.P. (&quot;TCP&quot;), a Delaware limited partnership.  Tontine Capital Management,
 L.L.C. (&quot;TCM&quot;), a Delaware limited liability company, is the general partner of TCP and indirectly owns 1,576,237 shares of
 Common Stock.  Mr. Jeffrey L. Gendell is the managing member of TCM and indirectly owns 1,576,237 shares of Common Stock.
 TCM and Mr. Gendell disclaim beneficial ownership of the reported securities except to the extent of their pecuniary
 interest.  As defined under Section 13(d) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, TCP, TCM and Mr. Gendell
 are part of a group.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Jeffrey L. Gendell,   Managing Member</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-11-16</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
