In 1947 "Empire Gallant" was sold to Borchard (UK) Ltd and was renamed "Richard Borchard". Following the Israeli Declaration of Independence and the start of the Arab–Israeli War, Egypt instigated a policy of confiscating goods in transport to Palestine that would be of use to the Egyptian military effort. "Richard Borchard" was at Alexandria on May 17. Her cargo of aluminium, dried fruit, machinery, motor vehicles, seaweed and tin was confiscated. It was claimed that she was a Zionist vessel owned in Italy. On 1 January 1949, "Richard Borchard" was intercepted off Haifa, Israel by an Egyptian Navy corvette and minesweeper. She stopped after a shot was fired across her bows and was allowed to proceed after a rudimentary search for contraband goods had been made.