Vessel is a documentary about Captain Rebecca Gomperts and her organization, Women on Waves, who work with a global network of locally-based organizations to transport women 12 miles offshore, just outside of domestic jurisdiction, where doctors provide safe, legal medical abortions at sea. Their actions shock the church, infuriate the government, exhilarate the media, and provoke mass debate among the voting population, but break no laws. They hope, instead, to save lives.