Oinousses

Oinousses, alternative Aignousa or Egnousa (Greek: Οινούσσες) is a barren cluster of 1 larger and 8 smaller islands. Administratively the islands form a municipality within the Chios regional unit, which is part of the North Aegean region. The principal town of the islands and seat of the municipality is also called Oinousses. The town is centred on a square and a small port; it includes a school, several churches, a Naval high school and a maritime museum. The vast majority of the workforce of the island is engaged in seafaring, fishing and goat-herding. The islands are noted as the origin of an unusual cluster of successful ship-owning families: the Lemos, Pateras, Hadjipateras, Kollakis and Lyras families. Whilst most of the families now live elsewhere most of the year, the islands and town are well maintained with a strong naval connection. Oinoussians abroad are noted for their successful entrepreneurial skills in the industrial transportation industry. Although the number of Oinoussian ship operating companies has fallen since their heyday in the 1960s they still maintain a formidable position in the industrial transportation industry.