diff --git a/examples/autonomy_engine_adapter/platform_status.json b/examples/autonomy_engine_adapter/platform_status.json
index 6fb29e0b882a0cef6981e438225da2ee9353f38a..59a24f1f48a47b3a3aeb1b37d05212c7e7cde0a7 100644
--- a/examples/autonomy_engine_adapter/platform_status.json
+++ b/examples/autonomy_engine_adapter/platform_status.json
@@ -39,6 +39,6 @@
         },
         "speed_over_ground": 4.3,
         "thrust_applied": 124.3,
-        "water_current_velocity": 124.3
+        "water_current_velocity": "124.3NE"
     }
 }
diff --git a/examples/ecosub_adapter/platform_status.json b/examples/ecosub_adapter/platform_status.json
index 6fb29e0b882a0cef6981e438225da2ee9353f38a..59a24f1f48a47b3a3aeb1b37d05212c7e7cde0a7 100644
--- a/examples/ecosub_adapter/platform_status.json
+++ b/examples/ecosub_adapter/platform_status.json
@@ -39,6 +39,6 @@
         },
         "speed_over_ground": 4.3,
         "thrust_applied": 124.3,
-        "water_current_velocity": 124.3
+        "water_current_velocity": "124.3NE"
     }
 }
diff --git a/project/soar/swagger.json b/project/soar/swagger.json
index 46c87770788dc780b81ac0c5c927690fab9dfc2b..515470d24362bec904a9a008becd7c872db4b452 100644
--- a/project/soar/swagger.json
+++ b/project/soar/swagger.json
@@ -666,9 +666,8 @@
           },
           "water_current_velocity": {
             "description": "Water current magnitude and direction",
-            "example": 124.3,
-            "format": "float",
-            "type": "number"
+            "example": "124.3NE",
+            "format": "string"
           }
         },
         "required": [
diff --git a/tests/fixtures/schemas.py b/tests/fixtures/schemas.py
index 9dc8dd21ff73f6471065f51560eab39ea4e27e69..85ec4da3365fedc7b15529fc8323077113d93cdd 100644
--- a/tests/fixtures/schemas.py
+++ b/tests/fixtures/schemas.py
@@ -541,10 +541,9 @@ platform_status_schema = {
             "example": 124.3,
         },
         "water_current_velocity": {
-            "type": "number",
-            "format": "float",
+            "format": "string",
             "description": "Water current magnitude and direction",
-            "example": 124.3,
+            "example": "124.3NE",
         },
         "thrust_applied": {
             "type": "number",
diff --git a/tests/fixtures/swagger.json b/tests/fixtures/swagger.json
index fb2150b7fdb881a245284457d85583cc8d49a9a7..44b74e58327c5463b9c8e834da606cb3f677fefa 100644
--- a/tests/fixtures/swagger.json
+++ b/tests/fixtures/swagger.json
@@ -647,9 +647,8 @@
           },
           "water_current_velocity": {
             "description": "Water current magnitude and direction",
-            "example": 124.3,
-            "format": "float",
-            "type": "number"
+            "example": "124.3NE",
+            "format": "string"
           }
         },
         "required": [
diff --git a/tests/mock_data/autonomy_engine_adapter/platform_status.json b/tests/mock_data/autonomy_engine_adapter/platform_status.json
index 306c0ed85dfaa1e1a73f2c8787a521b82e38b599..fa2ecada5cb7d459bc16954a4cb908787e523d82 100644
--- a/tests/mock_data/autonomy_engine_adapter/platform_status.json
+++ b/tests/mock_data/autonomy_engine_adapter/platform_status.json
@@ -39,6 +39,6 @@
         },
         "speed_over_ground": 4.3,
         "thrust_applied": 124.3,
-        "water_current_velocity": 124.3
+        "water_current_velocity": "124.3NE"
     }
 }
diff --git a/tests/mock_data/ecosub_adapter/platform_status.json b/tests/mock_data/ecosub_adapter/platform_status.json
index 6fb29e0b882a0cef6981e438225da2ee9353f38a..59a24f1f48a47b3a3aeb1b37d05212c7e7cde0a7 100644
--- a/tests/mock_data/ecosub_adapter/platform_status.json
+++ b/tests/mock_data/ecosub_adapter/platform_status.json
@@ -39,6 +39,6 @@
         },
         "speed_over_ground": 4.3,
         "thrust_applied": 124.3,
-        "water_current_velocity": 124.3
+        "water_current_velocity": "124.3NE"
     }
 }