In 1885 Steelfield was sold to WH Ross & Company of Liverpool. She was converted to a Barque rig, and for the next four years worked the South America trade, particularly nitrates.

 

On 10th April 1189 she sailed from Liverpool for Callao - on the 24th May, 1889 she was spoken to by another ship, she was never heard of again and was presumed to have floundered.