A parachute dropped by a small aircraft is observed by the US Navy as it drops over the MV Sirius Star during an apparent payment via a parachuted container to pirates holding the Sirius Star off the coast of Somalia, January 9, 2009.

 　　A parachute dropped by a small aircraft is observed by the US Navy as it drops over the MV Sirius Star during an apparent payment via a parachuted container to pirates holding the Sirius Star off the coast of Somalia, January 9, 2009.

　　The oil tanker MV Sirius Star is shown at anchor off the coast of Somalia in this November 19, 2008 file photo. Somali pirates on Friday released the Saudi supertanker held since November after payment of a $3 million ransom, an associate of the pirates said.