REPARATION NATION SHIPPING METHODOLOGY
This page explains how Reparation Nation Shipping Intelligence converts public reparations information into structured, traceable records.
The system separates organisations, programmes, commitments, resources, events, evidence and delivery so that they are not confused with one another.
1. PURPOSE
The purpose of the methodology is to create a durable record of reparatory activity that can distinguish between what has been announced, what has been committed, what has been allocated, what has moved, what has been delivered and what has been independently verified.
The system is designed to preserve evidence, chronology and accountability rather than reduce reparations activity to headlines.
2. SHIPPING MODEL
| Reparation Nation Term | Methodological Meaning |
|---|---|
| Organisation | The real-world body connected with reparatory activity. |
| Vessel | The organisation as a tracked entity inside Reparation Nation Shipping Intelligence. |
| Voyage | A distinct reparatory programme, process, undertaking or delivery journey. |
| Cargo | The money, land, services, institutional action, knowledge, resources or other reparatory value associated with a voyage. |
| Destination | The intended beneficiary, community, territory, institution or recipient. |
| Route | The mechanism or process through which reparatory cargo is intended to reach its destination. |
| Movement | A dated development affecting a vessel, voyage, cargo, route or delivery. |
| Hazard | A delay, dispute, obstacle, failure, contradiction or other material risk to delivery. |
| Safe Harbour | A completed or verified final stage of reparatory delivery. |
3. CORE DISTINCTIONS
4. RECORDING PROCESS
Identify the development
A reparations-related announcement, programme, payment, institutional action, policy, report, dispute, delivery or other material development is identified.
Identify the organisation
The real-world organisation responsible for, connected with or affected by the activity is identified.
Determine whether a vessel already exists
If the organisation is already tracked, its existing permanent Vessel ID is used. If not, a new organisation and vessel record may be created.
Identify the voyage
The activity is examined to determine whether it belongs to an existing reparatory programme or requires a new voyage record.
Identify the cargo
Any money, land, institutional action, grant, service, research activity, investment, transfer or other reparatory resource is recorded separately from the voyage itself.
Record the movement
The development is recorded as a dated movement so that the historical sequence of the voyage can be reconstructed.
Record the source
The evidence supporting the record is entered into the source register where appropriate.
Assign verification status
The record is assigned a verification status reflecting the quality and nature of the evidence available.
Update the voyage status
The voyage status is updated only where the available information supports a change.
Preserve the history
Later developments should normally be added as new movements rather than erasing the historical record.
5. VERIFICATION
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Primary Source Verified | The material fact is supported by an original or authoritative source from the organisation, public body or responsible institution. |
| Organisation Confirmed | The organisation itself has directly confirmed the relevant information. |
| Multiple Source Verified | The material fact is independently supported by more than one credible source. |
| Secondary Source Reported | The information is reported by a secondary source but has not yet been independently confirmed to a higher level. |
| Awaiting Verification | The information has been identified but supporting evidence remains incomplete. |
| Disputed | A material element of the record is contested or contradicted. |
6. VOYAGE STATUS
| Status | Methodological Use |
|---|---|
| Identified | Potential reparatory activity has been identified. |
| Announced | A programme or commitment has been publicly announced. |
| Loading | Resources or delivery structures are being assembled. |
| Ready to Depart | The programme appears ready to commence active delivery. |
| In Voyage | The programme is active. |
| Delivering | Reparatory cargo is actively being transferred or implemented. |
| Delayed | Progress has materially slowed or stalled without the programme being terminated. |
| Course Change | The programme has materially changed direction, scope or delivery method. |
| Suspended | The programme has temporarily stopped. |
| Terminated | The programme has ended without normal completion. |
| Completed | The stated programme has reached its declared completion point. |
| Safe Harbour | The system records the voyage as having reached completed or verified final delivery. |
7. CARGO STATUS
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Announced | Cargo has been publicly stated but not yet recorded as committed. |
| Committed | A commitment has been made. |
| Allocated | Resources have been formally assigned. |
| Contracted | A formal delivery arrangement or contract has been entered. |
| In Transit | The transfer or implementation process is underway. |
| Partially Delivered | Some, but not all, cargo has been delivered. |
| Delivered | The cargo is recorded as delivered. |
| Verified Received | Receipt has been independently or directly verified. |
| Cancelled | The cargo commitment or transfer has been cancelled. |
| Unknown | The present cargo status cannot be established. |
8. PERMANENT IDENTIFIERS
Each principal record receives a permanent Reparation Nation identifier.
| Record | Format |
|---|---|
| Organisation | RN-O-000001 |
| Vessel | RN-V-000001 |
| Voyage | RN-VY-000001 |
| Cargo | RN-C-000001 |
| Movement | RN-M-000001 |
| Source | RN-S-000001 |
| Destination | RN-D-000001 |
| Delivery | RN-DL-000001 |
| Correction | RN-CR-000001 |
Permanent identifiers should not encode race, ethnicity, nationality, country or year and should not be reused.
9. CORRECTIONS
Where information changes or an earlier record is shown to be incorrect, the preferred method is to preserve the historical record and create a correction or later movement rather than silently rewriting history.
This makes it possible to distinguish what was believed, announced or reported at one point in time from what was later established.
10. LIMITS OF THE SYSTEM
A Reparation Nation record shows what has been recorded and what evidence supports that record. It does not automatically prove that an organisation has fulfilled its reparatory obligations.
Tracking an organisation does not amount to endorsement, approval, certification or membership.
A financial figure may represent an announcement, commitment, allocation or delivery. The status attached to the record is therefore essential to interpreting the figure correctly.