Since many of the attempts to introduce a universal hydrographic data format have failed or have been only partially successful, a different approach is proposed. Our solution is the Hydrographic Universal Data Description Language (Huddl), a descriptive XML-based language that permits the creation of a standardized description of (past, present, and future) data formats, and allows for applications like Huddler, a compiler that automatically creates drivers for data access and manipulation. Huddl also represents a powerful solution for archiving data along with their structural description, as well as for cataloguing existing format specifica-tions and their version control. Huddl is intended to be an open, community-led initiative to simplify the issues involved in hydrographic data access.