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 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 1629, when Pietro Antonio Cafiero established a charitable fund to free sailors captured by pirates — an early expression of solidarity at sea that, two centuries later, inspired Salvatore Cafiero to found the local Seafarers’ Mutual Society.

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 his passing in 1982, the group has maintained its family-owned nature and independence, establishing itself by the late 1980s 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 tradition of maritime excellence into the third generation.