A Dockyard merchant is fuming over a sewage-related stench which he says is ruining his business.

Dennis Correia, owner of Snorkel Park Beach, said he has been in a three-year battle with the West End Development Corporation (Wedco) to clean up their act and get rid of the foul odour.

And Mr. Correia said although there are some days where the air is sweet and `Bermudaful', there are other days -- particularly after the cruise ships leave the area -- where the smell is almost unbearable.

Wedco Chief Engineer Greg Gosling yesterday responded by saying the smell was the result of waste pumped from the cruise ship Horizon into the Dockyard treatment plant. He said the plant was unable to process the "high concentrations and volumes of waste'' -- which caused the plant to turn septic "with resulting odours''.

"This upset to the plant will normally last for two days until such time that the digesting bacterial colony of the plant can be revived,'' he added.

Mr. Correia's complaints follow from a soca concert review published in The Royal Gazette last week which noted that the stench at Snorkel Park had bothered hundreds of Cup Match music-lovers.

Mr. Correia said he has been making the park available to concert promoters -- noting the limitations on Government properties such as Clearwater Beach.

But he noted that the stink at last week's show was one example of how WEDCO's sewage problems were affecting his business.

"I'm trying to help out these young guys who are doing concerts and that sort of thing -- it's a great location because it's away from the major residential areas.

"But Wedco knows they need to expand (the sewer tank) -- the stink is ruining my business,'' he added.

Mr. Gosling said the Horizon was having technical difficulties with pre-treatment waste water system before it was pumped into the Dockyard plant.

But he noted that Celebrity Cruises have engaged consultants from the US that are expected to arrive in Bermuda today to assess the problem.