Prompt position

A prompt position is a vessel open for immediate or near-immediate fixture, ready to load within a few days of the present date. Prompt ships command rate sensitivity: a charterer with a prompt cargo and few prompt ships in the area pays up, while an owner with a prompt ship and no cargo nearby discounts to avoid idle days. Brokers flag prompt positions at the top of the position list because they are the most time-critical to fix. The opposite is a forward position, open weeks ahead, where laycan flexibility softens the rate.