Assessment of Transport Management Practices in the Nigerian Oil and Gas Sector: A Study of Offshore Logistics in Bayelsa State

Offshore logistics in the Nigerian oil and gas sector present unique transport management challenges given the remote operating environments, high safety standards, and complex regulatory frameworks involved. This study assesses transport management practices supporting offshore operations in Bayelsa State, the heart of Nigeria's onshore and shallow-water oil producing area in the South South zone. A professional applied research design was adopted, with data collected from 30 transport and logistics managers in six major oil producing companies and their logistics contractors through structured interviews and operational data review. The study evaluates vessel scheduling, crew and cargo transfer protocols, safety compliance, cost management practices, and the integration of transport management with broader supply chain systems. Findings reveal that transport management in the sector is generally more advanced than other Nigerian industries, with most operators employing enterprise resource planning systems and adhering to ISO-certified safety management protocols. However, challenges persist in coordinating marine and land transport interfaces, managing delays caused by community-related disruptions, and controlling unit transport costs in a high-cost operating environment. Environmental compliance in vessel operations is identified as an area requiring closer management attention. The study recommends integrated multimodal logistics planning systems, enhanced community liaison mechanisms to prevent transport disruptions, and benchmarking against international offshore logistics management standards. Keywords: offshore logistics, oil and gas, Bayelsa, transport management, marine transport.