Exhibit 5.1

Board of Directors
Duratek, Inc.
10100 Old Columbia Road
Columbia, Maryland 21046


Gentlemen:

         We are acting as counsel to Duratek, Inc., a Delaware corporation
(the "COMPANY"), in connection with its registration statement on Form S-8
(the "REGISTRATION STATEMENT"), filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission relating to the proposed public offering of up to 1,000,000 shares
of the Company's common stock, par value $.01 per share, (the "SHARES")
issuable under the Company's 2001 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "PLAN").
This opinion letter is furnished to you at your request to enable you to
fulfill the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K, 17 C.F.R.
Section 229.601(b)(5), in connection with the Registration Statement.

         For purposes of this opinion letter, we have examined copies of the
following documents:

         1.       An executed copy of the Registration Statement.

         2.       A copy of the Plan.

         3.       The Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as certified
                  by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on June 22,
                  2001 and by the Secretary of the Company on the date hereof as
                  being complete, accurate, and in effect.

         4.       The Bylaws of the Company, as certified by the Secretary of
                  the Company on the date hereof as being complete, accurate,
                  and in effect.

         5.       Resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Company adopted
                  at a meeting held on March 13, 2001, as certified by the
                  Secretary of the Company on the date hereof as being complete,
                  accurate, and in effect, relating to the issuance and sale of
                  the Shares and arrangements in connection therewith.

         6.       Resolutions relating to the Plan adopted by the stockholders
                  of the Company at the Company's annual meeting held on June 8,
                  2001 at the Company's principal executive offices, as
                  certified by the Secretary of the Company on the date hereof
                  as being complete, accurate and in effect.

         7.       A certificate of the Secretary of the Company, dated the date
                  hereof, as to certain facts relating to the Company.

         In our examination of the aforesaid documents, we have assumed the
genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of all natural persons, the
accuracy and completeness of all documents submitted to us, the authenticity
of all original documents, and the conformity to authentic original documents
of all documents submitted to us as copies (including telecopies). This
opinion letter is given, and all statements herein are made, in the context
of the foregoing.

         This opinion letter is based as to matters of law solely on the
Delaware General Corporation Law, as amended. We express no opinion herein as
to any other laws, statutes,


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ordinances, rules, or regulations. As used herein, the term "Delaware General
Corporation Law, as amended" includes the statutory provisions contained
therein, all applicable provisions of the Delaware Constitution and reported
judicial decisions interpreting these laws.

         Based upon, subject to and limited by the foregoing, we are of the
opinion that following (i) effectiveness of the Registration Statement, (ii)
issuance of the Shares pursuant to the terms of the Plan and (iii) receipt by
the Company of the consideration of the Shares specified in the resolutions
of the Board of Directors, the Shares will be validly issued, fully paid, and
nonassessable.

         This opinion letter has been prepared for your use in connection
with the Registration Statement and speaks as of the date hereof. We assume
no obligation to advise you of any changes in the foregoing subsequent to the
delivery of this opinion letter.

         We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter as Exhibit
5.1 to the Registration Statement and to the reference to this firm under the
caption "Legal Matters" in the prospectus constituting a part of the
Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that
we are an "expert" within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended.

                                            Very truly yours,

                                            /s/ Hogan & Hartson L.L.P.

                                            HOGAN & HARTSON L.L.P.


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