When sailing north through the Yellow Sea in February, one of the battles faced for personnel on board HMAS Toowooomba was the freezing cold.

The ship has completed her deployment under Operation Argos, to support the enforcement of United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions against North Korea.

The Australian Defence Force has conducted periodic deployments for Operation Argos since 2018, working closely with partners to enforce UNSC sanctions by deterring and disrupting illegal maritime activity, including ship to ship transfers at sea.

This includes the prohibited import or export of items used to support North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs, and North Korea’s imports of refined petroleum and crude oil, and its exports of coal.

Patrolling the Yellow Sea, wedged between China and the Korean Peninsula, the body of water derives its name from the yellow sediment constantly flowing out from continental river systems, creating a biodiverse ecosystem for marine and avian wildlife.  

Yet in winter, water temperatures plunge to freezing and are matched with constant winter northerly winds pushing at average speeds of 20 kilometres per hour. While these extreme temperatures cause much of the wildlife to seek safe harbour, for Boatswain’s Mate Leading Seaman Aidan Todd, it was where he carried out the business of his trade.

“It’s good exposure to be operating the boat in challenging environments. While we’re used to the warm waters off Western Australia, to be able to deal with these Siberian winds and freezing waters is a great test for the team,” Leading Seaman Todd said.

The elite deck team on Toowoomba have one of the riskiest roles on the ship, and have to be ready to act in freezing conditions on a mission like Operation Argos, where Toowoomba was tasked with aiding the prevention of North Korea illegally smuggling sanctioned goods through elaborate black-market networks, including via clandestine ship-to-ship transfers on the high seas.

'We prepare in the worst environments and hope for the best.'

However, due to the training and faith in their shipmates, the weather was a risk that didn’t enter the team’s mind.

“We don’t really think about it, we have such a competent team. This is why we train, to ensure we have confidence in the people around us. So, the risk is always minimal,” Leading Seaman Todd said.

Boatswain Chief Petty Officer Tyler Thomson confirmed the need for the ship to carry out essential boat exercises, despite the freezing conditions, noting that challenges or emergencies at sea “don’t wait for sunny weather”.

“We need to ensure we are safe to conduct operations in any environment,” Chief Petty Officer Thomson said.

“We need to be able to recover personnel out of the water, conduct diving operations and a list of other activities whenever needed. We prepare in the worst environments and hope for the best.”

He noted that the teams work to such a high standard, the only change in procedure was that boat crews wore special weather survival suits rated to Atlantic conditions.

“Operating in these environments, we ensure that we take special precautions. Firstly, boat crews all wear mustang suits, but the same level of care in deploying and recovering is always world-class, regardless of the environment,” Chief Petty Officer Thomson said.

Toowoomba’s deployment marked the 14th time Royal Australian Navy vessels have been deployed in support of Operation Argos. The most recent previous deployment was HMAS Sydney in May 2025.