Mumbai, July 29 -- The Directorate General of Maritime Administration (DGMA) on Tuesday said all crew members aboard MV Amir 1, a Tanzanian-flagged general cargo vessel stranded at Ukraine's Chornomorsk port, are safe despite missile strikes in the vicinity. The vessel has 15 crew members, including 13 Indian seafarers. The assurance came after the Forward Seamen Union of India (FSUI) said the crew was trapped in a "terrible and life-threatening situation" in the Black Sea and wanted to sign off. The union, noting that five Indian seafarers have died in two separate incidents in the Black Sea, posted a video purportedly showing smoke near the vessel and alleged that repeated drone and missile attacks were taking place in its immediate vicinity. In a message to the DGMA on Tuesday, the crew said a ballistic missile had struck a warehouse within the port zone moments earlier. "Our primary focus is ensuring the safety of the crew and the structural integrity of the hull," the message said, adding that a formal damage assessment and deck log would be submitted once the security situation permitted an inspection. In a post on X, the FSUI urged the shipowner, the flag state and the Government of India to immediately ensure the crew's safety and arrange their repatriation. "Indian seafarers must not be left as sitting targets in conflict zones," the union said. After a spate of ship hijackings, including the recent seizure of MT Asana by Somali pirates, the Directorate General of Maritime Administration (DGMA) on Tuesday issued an advisory warning Indian ships and foreign-flagged vessels carrying Indian seafarers transiting the Gulf of Aden, southern Red Sea and waters off the Horn of Africa to step up anti-piracy measures. The circular cites the latest piracy incident involving MT Asana, which was hijacked by armed pirates on July 17 while transiting the Gulf of Aden about 65 nautical miles south of Al Mukalla, Yemen. The vessel had 22 crew members, including 11 Indian seafarers, and is reported to be heading towards Somalia with the crew held hostage. A senior DGMA official said the shipowners are in contact with pirates and all crew members are safe.The advisory lists five recent piracy incidents, saying they demonstrate that threat in the Gulf of Aden and adjoining waters remains significant. htc...