-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001037852-03-000007.txt : 20031218
<SEC-HEADER>0001037852-03-000007.hdr.sgml : 20031218
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031218174404
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001037852-03-000007
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031217
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031218

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DURATEK INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000785186
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-HELP SUPPLY SERVICES [7363]
		IRS NUMBER:				222476180
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10100 OLD COLUMBIA ROAD
		CITY:			COLUMBIA
		STATE:			MD
		ZIP:			21046
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4103125100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10100 OLD COLUMBIA ROAD
		CITY:			COLUMBIA
		STATE:			MD
		ZIP:			21046

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	GTS DURATEK INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19930805

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	DURATEK CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			COMBINED MASTER RETIREMENT TRUST
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001037852
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			TX
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-14292
		FILM NUMBER:		031063256

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		THREE LINCOLN CENTRE
		STREET 2:		5430 LBJ FREEWAY STE 1700
		CITY:			DALLAS
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75240-2697
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9722331700

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		THREE LINCOLN CENTRE
		STREET 2:		5430 LBJ FREEWAY STE 1700
		CITY:			DALLAS
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75240-2697

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SIMMONS HAROLD C
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001037854
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			TX
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-14292
		FILM NUMBER:		031063255

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		THREE LINCOLN CENTRE
		STREET 2:		5430 LBJ FREEWAY STE 1700
		CITY:			DALLAS
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75240-2697
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9722331700

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		THREE LINCOLN CENTRE
		STREET 2:		5430 LBJ FREEWAY STE 1700
		CITY:			DALLAS
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75240-2697
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-12-17</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001037852</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>COMBINED MASTER RETIREMENT TRUST</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>THREE LINCOLN CENTRE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>5430 LBJ FREEWAY STE 1700</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DALLAS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>75240-2697</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>
    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001037854</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SIMMONS HAROLD C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>THREE LINCOLN CENTRE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>5430 LBJ FREEWAY STE 1700</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DALLAS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>75240-2697</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, par value $0.01 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-12-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1000000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>11</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>905900</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common stock, par value $0.01 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-12-18</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>530000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>12</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>375900</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common stock, par value $0.01 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-12-18</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>300000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>12.25</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>75900</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

    </nonDerivativeTable>


    <remarks>All of the reported transactions are direct sales by the The Combined Master Retirement Trust (the &quot;CMRT&quot;).  Valhi, Inc (&quot;Valhi&quot;) established the CMRT as a trust to permit the collective investment by master trusts that maintain the assets of certain employee benefit plans Valhi and related companies adopt (the &quot;Plans&quot;). Mr. Harold C. Simmons is the sole trustee of the CMRT and a member of the trust investment committee for the CMRT. Mr. Simmons is also chairman of the board of Valhi and a participant in one or more of the Plans. Mr. Simmons disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares of Duratek common stock the CMRT owns, except to the extent of his vested beneficial interest, if any, in such shares under the Plans.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Andrew Louis, as attorney-in-fact for Harold C. Simmons, Trustee of The Combined Master Retirement Trust</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-12-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Andrew Louis, as attorney-in-fact for Harold C. Simmons, in Mr. Simmons' individual capacity</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-12-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

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-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----