Abortion ship loses licence

A Dutch ship which offered abortions at sea for women in countries where they are banned has lost its government licence.

Health minister Els Borst has refused to issue a permit to the converted fishing trawler over safety fears.

The minister said she admired the work of the Amsterdam-based Women On Waves Foundation but had no choice.

Dutch government health inspectors were also unable to regularly visit the ship and ensure standards were adequate.

Women could also not easily be transferred to hospital if there were complications because the vessel was at sea.

A government spokesman said: "It doesn't make any difference that the organisation is only using the abortion pill.

"If it goes wrong, patients need to be cared for in a proper clinic and at sea, it¹s just impossible."

Last year, the ship provoked protests when it sailed to Ireland to carry out abortions off the Irish coast. However, no abortions were carried out. The organisation said it could not meet the high demand from Irish women.