The sea trials were held on 16/17 July 1919 during which the steamer performed satisfactorily and was handed over to the Shipping Board a few days after their completion.

[8] Following delivery to her operator, Yaklok sailed from Seattle and arrived at Portland on 3 August 1919 to take on board one of the last remaining loads of 1918 wheat crop.

[9] She departed Portland a week later bound for New York via Astoria carrying 283,804 bushels of wheat and after uneventful voyage reached Newport News on September 11.

[12] After spending two weeks in Newport News Yaklok was given green light to proceed to Europe and left the Virginia port on October 2 bound for Naples.

[17] Upon her return Yaklok was allocated to J. H. Winchester & Company and sailed from New York on her second journey on 1 February 1920 bound for Dunkirk and Antwerp with a cargo of rye.

On February 5, while roughly 200 nautical miles (370 km) off Cape Sable, her high pressure turbine became disabled and she was again forced to send out a distress call requesting aid.

[21] Upon her return, she sailed again in September of the same year loaded with a cargo of general merchandise and produce bound for Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro.

[22] The vessel remained berthed in New York harbor for the next four months before being officially laid up due to overabundance of tonnage and relocated to an anchorage off Prall's Island.