The owners of the Bluewater Ferry at Sombra are being forced to foot the bill for repairs to the causeway leading to its dock.
The Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker Samuel Risley was escorting four freighters down the St. Clair River at the time, but the government says there's no proof that's what caused the ice to break free.
Co-Owner Morgan Dalgety has been told there's no money in the federal budget to make repairs, which will likely be in the millions of dollars.
"It's surprising to me because last year Revenue Canada got $3.25-million out of this port for taxes and duties," says Dalgety. "So, I figured they would want to keep a port open with that kind of revenue coming in. They said 'no' so we're trying to finance it on our own."
Dalgety says a complete rebuild would cost upwards of $4-million.
He says they're looking at constructing a Bailey bridge, which would be $1.5-million plus the cost of building a new centre pier.
They're still hoping for donations to come in from local industry to get the ferry back up and running this year.
Various companies including Worley Parsons and Windsor's Dean Construction are helping out.