The Netherlands-based, Women on Waves pro-choice organisation has been granted a new licence by the Dutch government and is preparing to set sail once again.

The non-profit organisation – which in the past has offered a range of abortion, contraception and counselling services – had been effectively prohibited from plying international waters in 2004, when the conservative Dutch government of the day imposed a raft of prohibitive restrictions on the group. The rules have recently been eased, however, after a shift of power to a more liberal coalition.

The new licence will allow a new ship, still to be chartered by the organisation, to fly the Dutch flag. The licence will also allow the ship, when in international waters, to dispense “abortion pills” that induce miscarriage to women up to seven weeks pregnant.

Since the ship will be Dutch-registered, Dutch laws apply on board when the ship is in international waters.

A spokesperson from the organisation contacted yesterday was not in a position to confirm when the movement would take to the open seas, or whether the ship would in fact be visiting international waters around Malta.

An article published in The Times of London yesterday, however, quotes the organisation’s director Dr Rebecca Gomperts as confirming that a new campaign was being formulated and that the three European countries where abortion is illegal – Malta, Ireland and Poland – as well as certain South American countries, could be included in the ship’s itinerary.

Dr Gomperts was not reachable by the time of going to print yesterday.

The organisation is also contesting the terms of the new licence and is pushing for the time limit to be extended from seven to 12 weeks.

The ship had planned to visit the waters around Malta in 2000, a prospect that provoked an outcry from the government, the Church and sections of the public.

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, at the time Social Policy Minister, had warned that the government would seek legal action against any Maltese found working with Women on Waves. In Europe, the organisation has campaigned in Ireland, Poland and Portugal.