An aerator would melt it quickly. you'd be amazed at how quick an aerater will cut through ice even thicker than that.

Is it possible that at least part of this is due to ice expansion? Ice volume is about 10 percent more than water so as water freezes it expands (that's why pipes with water in them can burst when the water freezes) If that's the case it would seem this would stablized after intitial expansion. Ice typically forms underneath so it shouldn't be a problem to your pier unless I'm missing something here.

My 70 foot pier is fixed and I've had up to 18 inches of ice in the past with no problems.

The main danger I have seen to piers is on bigger water where the ice shifts and puts presure on a pier on a horizontal axis. That's why most people bring their piers in on the lakes around here. I've never seen that problem on a smaller ponds though.

If pigs could fly bacon would be harder to come by and there would be a lot of damaged trees.