Abortion on the High Seas

Forget all those cruise ship horror stories you've seen in the news. Here's a vessel that loses half of its passengers on every trip. From TimesOnline:

An "abortion ship" is planning to sail to countries where the practice is illegal and take women out to sea for terminations after the Dutch Government lifted restrictions banning it from international waters.

Rebecca Gomperts, the director of Women on Waves, told The Times: "We have just received the licence and there are some restrictive conditions but, yes, we are going to prepare a new campaign, that is for sure.

"We are in touch with women's organisations in several different countries. There are still three countries where abortion is illegal in Europe but there are also invitations from Argentina and some other South American countries."

Under the terms of its licence, the group is able to sail under the Dutch flag in international waters and hand out "abortion pills" for women up to seven weeks pregnant, causing them to have a miscarriage.

Kind of makes the tragic voyage of the Sea Diamond seem like a pleasure cruise.