A group of small islands in southern Chile bears the name of a naval officer of Greek descent who participated in hydrographic surveys of the country’s southern waterways nearly three decades ago.
The Psijas Islets, also referred to by members of Chile’s Greek community as the Psichas Islands, are located in the Aysén Region, within the commune of Cisnes, near the northeastern entrance to Melimoyu Sound.
Their name honors Antonio Psijas, a Chilean Navy officer of Greek descent who commanded a patrol vessel involved in charting the area in 1997.
The designation appears on official nautical charts issued by the Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service of the Chilean Navy (SHOA), including Chart No. 8211.
Speaking in an interview with travel content creators Haha Nomads, Psijas described the naval assignment that led to the naming of the islets and his subsequent efforts to share their history with Chile’s Greek community.
The Naval Mission Behind the Name
Psijas explained that the Chilean Navy undertook the hydrographic survey to improve navigation in an area used by maritime traffic.
In 1997, he commanded the patrol vessel Odger, which transported SHOA specialists to the Melimoyu area to collect the information required for nautical charts.
“We had to bring those people aboard the vessel, and I was its commander in 1997,” he stated, recalling that three or four specialists participated in the mission.
According to Psijas, the team spent approximately three months conducting surveys and recording water depths.
The work required operating close to shore, where shallow waters and submerged hazards presented navigational risks.
“As commander of a vessel, it is not very comfortable to get so close to the coast,” Psijas said, explaining that he had to balance the specialists’ need for measurements with responsibility for the ship’s safety.
The mission was subsequently documented in Chilean nautical geographical records, including a reference to the islets in the country’s nautical geographical dictionary.
Psijas said the naming represented an unexpected connection between his professional service and his Greek ancestry.
“I was lucky to be there at the right time, in the right place,” he said.
Greek Community Marks the Psijas Islets History
Years after the naval mission, Psijas began efforts to publicize the geographical designation among members of Chile’s Greek community and the Greek diplomatic mission.
Those efforts led to a commemorative ceremony at the islets on December 3, 2021, attended by Greece’s ambassador to Chile.
The event coincided with commemorations marking the 200th anniversary of the Greek War of Independence.
A plaque was unveiled to explain the origin of the islands’ name and recognize the connection between the Chilean Navy officer and the Greek community.
Psijas said he wanted the memorial to serve as a family legacy, honoring his parents and providing a record for his children and future generations. He described his family’s immigration history, tracing its roots to a Greek ancestor who arrived in the northern Chilean city of Antofagasta in 1910.
Reaching the Remote Psijas Islets
Visiting the commemorative site requires planning. Psijas said travelers could approach through Melimoyu or Raúl Marín Balmaceda, but would need to arrange boat transportation and account for rapidly changing weather.
During the interview, he also outlined a proposal for a cleared pathway, a marker and a viewing point to improve access to the memorial.
“What is important is that you should feel as proud as I do that we have some islands in southern Chile bearing the surname of a Greek immigrant,” he noted.
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