Scafi takes its name from its founder, Salvatore Cafiero. A captain in the Lauro Fleet and Head of the Chartering Department for many years, Salvatore Cafiero became a shipowner in 1955 to support the development of the petrochemical ports of Augusta and Syracuse on Sicily’s eastern coast, providing harbour towage services. 

The Cafiero family’s maritime roots, however, reach as far back as the 1600s. In 1629 the family established a charitable fund to free sailors captured by pirates, an early expression of solidarity at sea. In the centuries that followed, that bond with the sea endured, carried on by generations of seafarers and shipowners.

In 1964, Salvatore Cafiero expanded the business beyond towage to include deep-sea services and liquid and dry bulk transport operations, which ultimately led to the establishment of Scafi – Società di Navigazione S.p.A. in 1975.

Following Salvatore's passing in 1982, the Group has maintained its family-owned nature and independence. By the late 1980s, it had established itself as an international leader in towage and maritime assistance under the leadership of Bruna Cafiero, the founder's daughter, and her husband, Franco Visco. A powerful partnership in both life and business. 

While Cafiero brought the instinct of a forward-thinking entrepreneur, leading financial strategy and decision-making, Visco complemented her vision with structured and strategic management. In the same period, Umberto Masucci, a trusted friend of the family and an esteemed figure in the shipping industry, joined the Board of Directors, supporting and contributing to the Group’s growth up to this day.

Today, Bruna Cafiero holds the position of President of the Board of Directors, while her son, Paolo Visco, serves as CEO, actively leading the company's strategic direction and continuing the family business into the third generation.