<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-12-15</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001178575</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>K-SEA TRANSPORTATION PARTNERS LP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>KSP</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001275002</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>FRIEDMAN BRIAN P</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>520 MADISON AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10022</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Units representing limited partner interests</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-12-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5046</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>48958</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Units representing limited partner interests</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3792397</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Pro rata distribution from K-Sea General Partner L.P. (&quot;General Partner&quot;), the general partner of the Issuer.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Held by EW Transportation LLC (&quot;EW LLC&quot;) and-its subsidiaries.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Each of EW LLC and K-Sea General Partner GP LLC, the general partner of the General Partner (&quot;K-Sea GP&quot;), is owned by individual investors, including certain of K-Sea GP's directors and executive officers, K-Sea GP owns a 0.01% general partner interest in the General Partner, and individual investors, including certain of K-Sea GP's directors and executive officers, own a 99.99% limited partner interest in the General Partner. Mr. Friedman also owns 51% of Park Avenue Transportation Inc. (&quot;PAT&quot;), which is the managing member of EW LLC.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Mr. Friedman and PAT may be deemed to beneficially own the securities owned by EW LLC and its subsidiaries. Mr. Friedman and PAT disclaim beneficial ownership of these securities except to the extent of their respective pecuniary interests therein.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>Mr. Friedman is a member of of the Board of Directors of K-Sea General Partner GP LLC, the general partner of K-Sea General Partner L.P., the general partner of the Issuer.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Brian P. Friedman</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-12-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Brian P. Friedman, President of Park Avenue Transportation, Inc.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-12-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
