A passenger ferry had to turn back to port after a large wave shattered its windows.

The Northlink vessel MV Hrossey was en route from Aberdeen to Lerwick via Kirkwall when the incident happened around 7pm on Tuesday.

It is understood the wave smashed windows at the front of the ship, causing water to flood in.

The Hrossey was swiftly re-routed back to Aberdeen, where it docked shortly before 10pm.

Weather conditions in the area at the time were described as "extreme".

Northlink has offered cabins to all passengers and expects to have repairs completed to allow the vessel to resume its journey on Wednesday.

No-one is thought to have been injured.