Been nice if they could have had them, be around the docks... mostly. 1 or 2, to flit about when you hit the open seas... at different times... but, not flitting about at night... at all.
As for the docks... any chance of people population, being thinned down, perhaps... relegated to along the path your sub would take... so that it's not too... overpopulated, yet still giving the... illusion of there, being people there.
I know not everyone agrees with starting off from being docked... still would be nice if that is possible.
Otherwise, if not.. then... heck, may as well look at stripping the ability to go from office to the docks & just start from at sea already.
A shame if that is the case of the latter.... option. Happen to like the... realism feel of casting off from the dock... just as they did.
M. M.