As the ice-bound Cape May-Lewes Ferry remained docked for a sixth day on Tuesday, an ice breaker was on the job attempting to clear a path to allow service to resume.
But there was some good news as the tug boat ice breaker worked at the ferry's Cape May Terminal, focusing on the iced-over Cape May Canal which leads from the Delaware Bay to the ferry's dock.
Late Tuesday, ferry officials announced that at least one roundtrip was planned to go ahead on Wednesday. That would be the Cape May departure at 2:30 p.m. and the 4:15 p.m. departure from Lewes.
"Given the current conditions and weather trends, we expect to be able to keep this schedule," said Jim Salmon, spokesman for the Delaware River and Bay Authority which operates the ferry.
But given low tides and the remaining ice buildup, Salmon said the first two normally scheduled roundtrips of the day Wednesday and the last of the day would be canceled.
All crossings of the ferry which carries passengers and vehicles on a 17-mile, 85-minute trip between Cape May and Lewes, Del., have been on hold since last week.
Worsening ice conditions and an approaching winter storm last week prompted the ferry's operators to cancel all service on Thursday and no crossings of the bay have taken place since.
On Saturday, officials said conditions had only grown worse and have made a reassessment each day.
On Tuesday spectators gathered in the parking lot along the Cape May Canal to watch as the ice breaker worked to clear a path to allow the ferry's MV Cape Henlopen to make its spot at the dock to the bay.
Meanwhile, anyone headed to Lewes, Del., from Cape May must take the land route -- a 170-mile, three-and-a-half hour journey north and across the Delaware Memorial Bridge and then south to Lewes.
While the ferry sees its greatest use by travelers during the summer tourist season, it still has a steady clientele even in the bleakest days of winter. A week ago, before the shutdown the eight crossings across the Delaware Bay, approximately 370 vehicles and 772 passengers used the ferry on a single day.
Officials are hoping that improving weather conditions -- temperatures are expected to rise into the 50s later in the week in Cape May -- and tides will play a role in breaking up the ice.
The longest that the ice has kept the ferry service shut down is 45 days during the winter of 1977-1978 by extreme ice conditions from Jan. 11 through Feb. 25, according to Salmon.
He said that very few potential travers have shown up at the ferry terminals unaware crossings have been canceled. Any customers who had reservations for days there was no service were contacted by the ferry's customer service department.
Travelers looking for updates can call the Cape May-Lewes Ferry Guest Services Center at 1-800-643-3779, visit the ferry's website at www.cmlf.com or check its Twitter @CMLFerry for the latest departure information.
Bill Gallo Jr. may be reached at bgallo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Bill Gallo Jr. on Twitter @bgallojr. Find NJ.com on Facebook.