A daring and visionary documentary that follows Dr. Rebecca Gomperts and the group Women on Waves as they bring reproductive healthcare and abortion access to women in countries where it is outlawed—by boat. Operating in international waters under Dutch law, they use creative direct action to challenge governments, expose hypocrisy, and make choice possible where it was denied.

The film captures not only the boldness of the missions but the strategic sophistication behind them. Every voyage is meticulously planned to provoke public debate: the team invites press aboard, stages dramatic port arrivals, and uses media coverage to expose the cruelty of abortion bans while rallying local support. Cameras capture strategy meetings, security briefings, and training sessions where women in Latin America and Africa learn how to organize for access and use abortion pills safely, multiplying the movement’s reach far beyond the ship itself.

Over time, Vessel traces Women on Waves’ transformation from a sea-based protest into a global network through Women on Web, providing online medical abortion support in over 100 countries. What begins as one ship becomes an evolving model of transnational solidarity—combining science, activism, and storytelling to shift public perception and policy.

Since the film’s release, Women on Waves and Women on Web have expanded their work into more than 130 countries, including post-Roe U.S. states. Their tactics—combining legal innovation, training, and fearless use of the press—have influenced a new generation of cross-border reproductive-rights networks.