The wife of a man who died when his ship sank in "extraordinarily violent seas" says the crew were under pressure to sail in bad weather.

Second-in-command Jarek Orlow was among eight men to lose their lives when the Cemfjord sank in the Pentland Firth in January 2015.

The cargo ship overturned so quickly its crew were unable to issue a distress signal and the incident only came to light when a passing ferry spotted the Cemfjord's upturned hull a day later.

A 15-month inquiry by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has concluded the sinking was avoidable.

Mr Orlow's wife Katarzyna said the ship's owners were "negligent" and claimed the crew were put under pressure to sail in dangerous conditions.

She told STV News: "Many factors go together in the disaster - the negligence of the owners, tiredness of the crew, awful weather conditions, and commercial pressure.

"My knowledge about the situation has been officially confirmed."

MAIB investigators said there were "significant" safety problems with the Cemfjord's rescue boat launching arrangements and its bilge-pumping system.

They reported the crew had underestimated the severity of the weather when they sailed into the Pentland Firth and said they were not prepared to deal with emergency situations.

MAIB chief inspector Steve Clinch concluded: "The investigation found that Cemfjord capsized in extraordinarily violent sea conditions; a fatal hazard that was predictable and could have been avoided.

"The decision to enter the Pentland Firth rather than seek shelter was almost certainly a result of poor passage planning, an underestimation of the severity of the conditions and perceived or actual commercial pressure to press ahead with the voyage."

He added: "This tragic accident is a stark reminder of the hazards faced by mariners at sea and the factors that can influence decision making in such treacherous circumstances."