The activities of Garolla Group started in 1870 when Federico Garolla decided to move from Genoa, where he worked in his family Company in the import of coal, to Naples where he established his Company named "Ditta Federico Garolla".
The main activities of the firm were the import of coal, as in Genoa, and the bunker supply for ships, that at that time, were equipped with steam engines.
To carry out the activity the Company employed coal-carrier ships, that carried coal from UK and, locally, in the port of Naples a large number of barges, towed by tugs.

In 1911 at the death of Federico Garolla the activity was carried out by his sons Roberto and Augusto.
In 1927 they bought their first tanker, the "Federico Garolla" a 3500 TDW tanker, for long time employed for oil transportation to and from the Black Sea.

In the meantime the activity of bunker supply in the port of Naples changed from coal to fuel oil and therefore was developed by using new small tankers, barges and tugs.

In the 50's the "DITTA FEDERICO GAROLLA" turned into the "AUGUSTO GAROLLA & C." that later became "SARDA BUNKERS S.p.A"; which continued the activity in the 1000-6000 TDW range tankers, for the transportation of oil products and chartered to majors such as EXXON - SHELL - AGIP - B.P. etc. The company developed the bunker supply activity in the ports of Naples, Salerno and Cagliari as well.

Nowadays two companies belong to the group:

- SARDA BUNKERS S.p.A. that operates as bunker supplier in the port of Naples and Salerno and in the coastal transportation of oil products

- MED OFFSHORE S.p.A. (VIGLIENA S.r.l. until March 2004), mainly involved in the supply of offshore marine services (towage/assistance to oil platforms, anchor handling operations, cargo running etc.) with a fleet of Anchor Handling Tug Supply Vessels (AHTSV), chartered with majors (ENI, EDISON, SAIPEM, IEOC, PETROBEL ETC.)