Essex on 1 November. West Kedron was renamed Empire Eland becoming one of the Empire ships. The United Kingdom Official Number 168041 and Code Letters GLXD were allocated. She was placed under the management of Douglas & Ramsey. Her port of registry was London. She was assessed as , . Empire Eland was a member of Convoy FN 346, which departed from Southend on 29 November and arrived at Methil on 1 December. She then joined Convoy EN 35, which departed on 2 December and arrived at Oban, Argyllshire on 6 December. She continued on to the Clyde, arriving on 7 December. Empire Eland was a member of Convoy OB 262, which departed from Liverpool on 20 December and dispersed at sea on 23 December. She was in ballast, bound for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. She arrived on 10 January 1941, sailing on 27 January for Halifax, where she arrived on 22 January. Laden with a cargo of steel, Empire Eland was a member of Convoy HX 108, which departed from Halifax on 9 February and arrived at Liverpool on 27 February. She then sailed to Newport, Monmouthshire, from where she departed on 18 March for Swansea, arriving the next day. Empire Eland departed from Swansea on 19 March for the Clyde, arriving on 21 March. She was a member of Convoy OB 303, which departed from Liverpool on 28 March and dispersed at sea on 3 April. She was bound for Baltimore, Ohio. Empire Eland is recorded as leaving Halifax on 15 April, and returning on 25 April. She then joined Convoy SC 30, which departed on 29 April and arrived at Liverpool on 20 May. She was carrying a cargo of steel, and left the convoy at Loch Ewe, arriving on 16 May. Empire Eland then sailed to the Belfast Lough, arriving on 19 May. She then joined Convoy BB 23, which departed on 20 May and arrived at Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire on 22 May. She sailed on to Newport, arriving later that day. Empire Eland sailed from Newport to Swansea on 1 June, departing on 7 June for Milford Haven, where she arrived later that day, sailing two days later to join Convoy OB 333, which departed from Liverpool on 10 June and dispersed at on 21 June. She was bound for Boston, Massachusetts, where she arrived on 1 July. She sailed on 27 July for Halifax,