A graduate in economics, law and literature, Francis Vallat was a renowned oil tanker ship-owner for 32 years (in 1990 he publicly demanded the French and European authorities to declare war on substandard “dust-bin” ships). As senior VP of Intertanko, he successfully took over and pushed the fight for quality and safety in shipping all over the world. A long-time advocate of maritime safety, he represented France during six years at the European Maritime Safety Agency EMSA (he chaired the Agency in 2005, and was its Vice-President from 2002 until 2008). He also chaired the French Institute of the Sea for 10 years. He then created and chaired the French Maritime Cluster (an umbrella organization of 450 maritime entities: companies, professional federations, Research Institutes, Navy ) and the European Network of Maritime Clusters (18 countries).

Very active on the environmental protection of the Ocean, he chaired during 5 years “Expedition 7eme Continent” against plastic in the Ocean.

He also chaired during 3 years SOSMEDITERRANEE, rescuing migrants in central Mediterranea.

Awards and official recognitions : In 2017 in London, he was the first French professional ever to awarded the Lloyd’s List « Global Lifetime Achievement Award » (Maritime Personality of the Year) // Member of the French “Académie de Marine” // Commander of the Legion of Honor – Commander of Maritime Merit  – Officer of National Merit –  Silver Medal of Military Services

« Our country is on the verge of having a flagship project, Flag Bearer for Sustainable Development, a great French project with a global vocation. This is a wonderfully symbolic universal project of French industrial know-how, by its design, aesthetics and technology. »