EXHIBIT 99


                                   [AMERICAN ECO LOGO]


NEWS RELEASE
American Eco Corporation, 11011 Jones Road, Houston, Texas 77070
For Immediate Release
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AMERICAN ECO AND PRIDE INTERNATIONAL IN COUNTER CLAIMS OVER DEFAULT
OF AMETHYST OIL PLATFORMS

HOUSTON, August 20, 1999 - AMERICAN ECO CORPORATION (NASDAQ: ECGO,
TSE: ECX) and its subsidiary MM Industra of Halifax, Nova Scotia,
announced that they had filed an amended complaint in Toronto,
Canada on July 28, 1999 against Pride International, Inc., of
Houston, among others, concerning the August 1998 default of a
US$161.0 million contract by reason of a failure to make the second
payment due for construction of the Amethyst II & III oil drilling
platforms.

On August 17, 1999, American Eco was served with a counter suit for
US$200.0 million from Pride International in state court in
Houston, Texas, in regard to the same contract.  Pride acknowledged
the existence of the prior Ontario lawsuit.   American Eco believes
that, "Pride is abusing the legal process by launching a counter
suit to avoid the jurisdiction of the Superior Court of Ontario, in
an attempt to move the action to Harris County District Court in
Texas."

American Eco further stated, "The false claims of Pride are
completely without merit and that certain funds should be
immediately released to American Eco under the terms of the
defaulted contract, and the balance of American Eco's claims should
be litigated."

AMERICAN ECO is a leading consolidator of outsourcing services to
the energy, pulp & paper, power generation and construction
management service industries.

Except for the historical information in this News Release, the
News Release includes forward looking statements that involve risks
and uncertainties including, but not limited to quarterly
fluctuations in results, the management of growth, competition and
other risks.  Actual results may differ materially from such
information set forth herein.

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For additional information, contact:
Michael E. McGinnis                              Michael Appling Jr.
President & CEO                              Cheif Financial Officer
Houston, Texas                                        Houston, Texas
(281) 774-7000                                        (218) 774-7000

                           www.americaneco.com
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                    investorrelations@americaneco.com
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