Professor Dracos Vassalos

Professor Vassalos is an Emeritus Professor of the University of Strathclyde, where he served for over 25 years as Professor of Maritime Safety, including as Head of Department of Naval Architecture, Ocean and Marine Engineering for 10 years.  He is a world-leading maritime safety expert, promoting the use of scientific approaches for safety enhancement through innovation, by transferring research advances into practical applications. In this quest, he laid the foundations and paved the way for complete modernisation of maritime safety, (from regulations to life-cycle risk management) the full impact of which is still being delivered. He has been closely associated with the IMO Maritime Safety Committee and with the Maritime and Coastguard Safety Agency.  

Professor Vassalos is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering and received a Life Achievement Award from the Academy in 2011.  For his life-long contribution to maritime safety, he received the Froude Medal from RINA in 2012, the David Taylor Medal from SNAME in 2015 and a Doctor of Science Degree from the University of Strathclyde in 2016. 

Professor Vassalos is also a member of the Foundation’s Grants and Direct Charitable Activities Committee.