Following repairs to her turbines, Zirkel filled her holds with cotton, coffee, and steel and put to sea on 6 February 1919.

Zirkel then took on about 800 tons of iron ore and headed back to the United States on 13 March 1919.

On 29 March 1919, the freighter arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and, after unloading, began preparations for demobilization.

The Shipping Board retained her until she was sold to Union Shipbuilding Company of Baltimore, Maryland, in 1929.

Zirkel was towed from New York by the company's steamer Columbine, reaching the ship breaking yard in Baltimore on 20 August 1929.