Shore-launched lifeboats are generally seen as as a good thing.
However, they are often needed during storms, where the sea state makes progress difficult, and subjects the crew to a severe battering.
At 20 metres depth, ocean waves don't affect submarines- waves are a surface effect.
There
are numerous decommissioned nuclear subs around the planet. Why not get some extra use out of them ?
Stripped of weapons, these subs would be spacious, and require much smaller crews - the extra space could prove useful in their new role.
Painted Rescue Orange, the subs will loiter in publicised locations around coasts, on the surface in good weather, submerged in bad weather. A permanently fixed marker buoy provides a base for an antenna for communications.
In an emergency, the sub can move very rapidly to the location irrespective of the sea conditions, then surface and spot the ship in distress by radar or Mk. I eyeball. A rescue boat can then be launched from a caisson on deck, or swimmers can be hauled aboard into the sail.
Victims would be brought aboard for immediate medical assessment and/or treatment, then hot showers, dry clothes, food, drink, and rest in a bunk.