8-K

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported):  January 4, 2006

Veritas DGC Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

Delaware

(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)

1-7427	76-0343152
(Commission File Number)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
10300 Town Park Drive
Houston, Texas	77072
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)	(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:  (832) 351-8300

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

oWritten communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

oSoliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

oPre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

oPre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 7.01.Regulation FD Disclosure.

On January 4, 2006, the registrant issued a press release reporting that its Viking Maritime Inc. subsidiary has entered into an agreement in principle with Eidesvik Shipping AS, a wholly owned subsidiary of Eidesvik Offshore ASA, to charter a seismic research vessel which is to be newly constructed.  The time charter is for a period of 8 years fixed, with options of up to 10 more years.  When delivered in February 2007, the vessel will be the seventh seismic vessel in registrant’s fleet, and the fourth to be owned and operated for registrant by Eidesvik on worldwide seismic operations.  A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1.

In addition to the charter hire for the vessel, registrant currently expects to invest approximately $55 million to equip the vessel for seismic operations.  Of the expected $55 million total, registrant currently expects to invest approximately $1.5 million during its fiscal year ending July 31, 2006 and approximately $35.5 million during its the fiscal year ending July 31, 2007 for recording and in-water systems for the vessel.  The remaining $18 million investment is expected to be in the form of an eight-year capital lease of certain onboard seismic handling equipment.

Item 9.01Financial Statements and Exhibits

(c)Exhibit

Exhibit No.	Description
99.1	Press release issued January 4, 2006

THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS CURRENT REPORT, INCLUDING THE EXHIBIT ATTACHED HERETO, SHALL NOT BE DEEMED “FILED” FOR THE PURPOSES OF SECTION 18 OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS AMENDED, NOR SHALL IT BE DEEMED INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE INTO ANY REGISTRATION STATEMENT OR OTHER FILING PURSUANT TO THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE EXPRESSLY STATED IN SUCH FILING.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

		VERITAS DGC INC.
Date:	January 10, 2006	By:	/s/ LARRY L. WORDEN
		Name: Larry L. Worden
		Title:   Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

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EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.	Description
99.1	Press release issued January 4, 2006

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EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

Veritas DGC Inc. and Eidesvik Agree on Charter of New Seismic Vessel

Houston – January 4, 2006 – Veritas DGC Inc., (NYSE & TSX: VTS) and Eidesvik Offshore ASA (OSE: EIOF) today announced that Eidesvik and Veritas’ Viking Maritime Inc., subsidiary have entered into an agreement to charter a seismic research vessel which is to be newly constructed.  The time charter is for a period of 8 years fixed, with options of up to 10 more years.  When delivered from West Contractors yard in Ølensvåg, Norway, in February 2007, the vessel will be the seventh seismic vessel in the Veritas fleet, and the fourth to be owned and operated for Veritas by Eidesvik on worldwide seismic operations.

The vessel is 105 meters long with an extended breadth of 24 meters, and will have the capability of towing up to 12 long streamers.  The gross tonnage is approximately 11,500 tonnes and the vessel will have accommodation for up to 70 persons.  The vessel is owned by Eidesvik Shipping AS, a wholly owned subsidiary of Eidesvik Offshore ASA.  The construction cost of the vessel, excluding seismic equipment, is NOK 366 million.

“Veritas and Eidesvik have again joined forces on all levels for the benefit of both parties, and most importantly, for the clients,” says Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Jan Fredrik Meling.  “Eidesvik’s policy is to build and maintain long-term relationships with our charterers.  The operation of the three Viking-class vessels has proven to be a success and we are very happy to be awarded this contract for the fourth vessel on charter to Veritas.”

The other three vessels on time charter contract to Veritas are SR/V “Veritas Viking”, SR/V “Veritas Viking II” and SR/V “Veritas Vantage”, delivered in 1998, 1999 and 2002 respectively.  Eidesvik provide the maritime crews and all marine operations and management for the vessels, while Veritas provides all seismic-related aspects of the operations.

According to Richard Price, Veritas’ Senior Vice President, Marine Acquisition, “Veritas has been seeking an opportunity to extend its global marine acquisition capability, to meet the growing demand for our services, and we are very pleased to have entered into this agreement with Eidesvik for an additional vessel.  We look forward to extending our excellent relationship with Eidesvik, and to making another world-class, safe, efficient multi-streamer seismic vessel available to our customers worldwide.”

Veritas, headquartered in Houston, Texas, is a leading provider of integrated geophysical information and services to the petroleum industry worldwide.

Eidesvik Offshore ASAis theparent company of the Eidesvik-group.  The Company operates 19 vessels within supply-, subsea- and seismic vessel activities and has about 500 employees.  The main office and operational base is located at Bømlo on the Norwegian West coast.

Veritas Contact:	C. Richard Price, Sr. VP Marine Acquisition	Phone: +1 832 351 8400
	Mindy Ingle, Investor Relations	Phone: +1 832 351 8821
Company info:	Veritas DGC Inc., 10300 Town Park Drive, Houston, Texas USA 77072, Telefax +1 832 351 8701
	Web: www.veritasdgc.com
Eidesvik Contact:	Jan Fredrik Meling, CEO	Phone: +47 916 75 119
	Jan Lodden, COO	Phone: +47 482 04 160
Company info:	Eidesvik Offshore ASA, N-5443 Bømlo Norway, Telefax +47 5344 8001
	Web: www.eidesvik.no