More than five years after the XPress Pearl caught fire and sank off the coast of Sri Lanka, Captain Vitaly Tyutkalo remains unable to leave the country because of ongoing legal proceedings and a travel ban. Despite attending nearly 70 court hearings, no criminal or civil proceedings have made findings against him, and he has not been convicted of any crime. The trial was paused in March 2026 over “new evidence”, with no decision on allowing that evidence as of September 2026. During the incident, Captain Vitaly remained on the bridge, informed the relevant parties and was the last to leave the vessel as the crew escaped. The prolonged proceedings have kept him separated from his family, caused significant stress and affected his health, while X-Press Feeders continues to provide day-to-day and legal support. Despite his experiences, Captain Vitaly says he still loves being a seafarer and dreams of returning home.