A Marine Spatial Data Infrastructure (MSDI) is that element of an SDI that focuses on the marine input in terms of governance, standards, ICT and content. The concept of MSDI is now gaining wider appreciation in terms of the way a variety of data types might be combined for efficient analysis by a wide range of disciplines, such as spatial planning, environmental management and emergency response. This requires the data to be held in a generic way, rather than for a particular product for a limited user group or for a specific purpose. An MSDI is not a collection of hydrographic products, but an infrastructure that promote interoperability of data at all levels.