Pakistani runaway sailor found

A Pakistani sailor who jumped ship during multilateral navy exercises in Darwin has been found.

The man, 23, went missing from Pakistan navy ship PNS Nasr at about 4.30am on Sunday and it was initially believed he'd fallen overboard while the ship was anchored in Darwin Harbour as part of the biannual Exercise Kakadu.

But police said it became apparent he did not want to be found after they discovered his plastic-wrapped backpack floating on the water near the Cox Peninsula and he was spotted by a worker there near Talc Head.

Police confirmed on Tuesday that the man was found hiding in a shed late on Monday night, and was in good health.

He is now in the hands of immigration authorities.

Exercise Kakadu, running from August 25 to September 12, is the navy's largest maritime warfare exercise.

Eight warships and 26 navy and air force aircraft from the Asia Pacific and Indian Ocean region are participating.