From the list of suggestions, the broker can respond directly to one or more PEs (but only one at a time) by first selecting a PE and then by right clicking it and selecting “Propose” a new message containing the ship details will be created (the ship reference will automatically be added to the message header along with the PE reference number). Once sent, the message can be found on the “Messages” tab for the ship in the vessel database as well as on the “Messages” tab for the PE (all PEs are accessible using the left hand menu bar, using the Purchase Enquiries icon which opens the Purchase Enquiries screen). Having been proposed, the PE is then moved from the “Matching PE” tab to the “PE” tab for the ship in question.
Having proposed a ship, the “Relation Status” shown on the “P/E” tab is automatically changed to “Proposed” (this is different to the P/E “Status” which is changed by editing the P/E, and includes completed, failed, working etc.). This “Relation Status” can later be changed (right click on the respective row and select “Edit”) to either “Rejected” (the potential buyer does not consider the ship to be suitable) or “Interested” (an initial positive response to the proposal ready for discussions to move to the next stage). If the broker subsequently considers a ship to be unsuitable it can be deleted from the “Ships” tab.