Ownership Submission
FORM 4
Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
FIRST RESERVE GP IX INC
  2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
NATURAL RESOURCE PARTNERS LP [NRP]
5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
_____ Officer (give title below) __X__ Other (specify below)
See FN 1
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
ONE LAFAYETTE PLACE
3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
12/09/2005
(Street)

GREENWICH, CT 06830
4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
___ Form filed by One Reporting Person
_X_ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 3)
2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)
4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 and 5)
5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 3 and 4)
6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)
7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price
Common Units 12/09/2005   S   149,230 D $ 54.51 0 I (1) See FN (1) (2)

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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 3)
2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 4. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)
5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4, and 5)
6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)
7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities
(Instr. 3 and 4)
8. Price of Derivative Security
(Instr. 5)
9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 4)
10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)
11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Subordinated Units (3) 12/09/2005   S     447,690   (3)   (3) Common Units (3) (3) $ 51.5 0 I (1) See FN (1) (2)

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
 Director  10% Owner  Officer  Other
FIRST RESERVE GP IX INC
ONE LAFAYETTE PLACE
GREENWICH, CT 06830
      See FN 1
FIRST RESERVE FUND IX L P
ONE LAFAYETTE PLACE
GREENWICH, CT 06830
      See FN 1
FIRST RESERVE GP IX L P
ONE LAFAYETTE PLACE
GREENWICH, CT 06830
      See FN 1
FRC NRP A V HOLDINGS L P
ONE LAFAYETTE PLACE
GREENWICH, CT 06830
      See FN 1
FRC NRP INC
ONE LAFAYETTE PLACE
GREENWICH, CT 06830
      See FN 1
FRC WPP GP LLC
ONE LAFAYETTE PLACE
GREENWICH, CT 06830
      See FN 1
FRC WPP NRP INVESTMENT L P
ONE LAFAYETTE PLACE
GREENWICH, CT 06830
      See FN 1

Signatures

 /s/ Thomas R. Denison   12/13/2005
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

 Thomas R. Denison   12/13/2005
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

 Thomas R. Denison   12/13/2005
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

 Thomas R. Denison   12/13/2005
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

 Thomas R. Denison   12/13/2005
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

 Thomas R. Denison   12/13/2005
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

 Thomas R. Denison   12/13/2005
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) The Common Units and Subordinated Units sold as reported on this Form 4 were directly owned by FRC-WPP NRP Investment L.P. (the "Unit Holder"). FRC-WPP GP LLC (the "Investment GP) is the general partner of the Unit Holder. FRC-NRP A.V. Holdings, L.P. ("AV") holds a majority of the limited partnership interests and member interests of the Unit Holder and the Investment GP, respectively. FRC-NRP, Inc. ("Blocker") and First Reserve GP IX, L.P. ("GP IX") are the general partners of AV, and First Reserve Fund IX, L.P. ("Fund IX") is the sole stockholder of Blocker. GP IX is the general partner of Fund IX, and First Reserve GP IX, Inc. ("First Reserve") is the general partner of GP IX. Each of the Unit Holder, the Investment GP, AV, Blocker, Fund IX and GP IX are controlled by First Reserve. First Reserve, GP IX, Fund IX, AV and Blocker are collectively referred to as the "FRC Entities." The Unit Holder and the Investment GP are collectively referred to as the "NRP Entities.
(2) The Reporting Persons are filing this Form 4 to satisfy potential filing obligations in the event any such Reporting Person is deemed to be a director of the issuer by deputization.
(3) The Subordinated Units convert into Common Units in the manner described in the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Natural Resource Partners L.P. (the "Issuer") dated October 17, 2002, filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC by the Issuer on March 31, 2003 (File No.001-31465), as amended by Amendment No. 1 to the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Natural Resource Partners L.P., dated December 8, 2003, filed as Exhibit 4.2 to the Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed with the SEC by the Issuer on December 23, 2003 (File No. 333-111532).
 
Remarks:
First Reserve GP IX, Inc. ("GP Inc."), by Thomas R. Denison, Managing Director is signing for itself as the designated filer, and for the remaining FRC Entities described in Footnote 1. FRC-WPP GP LLC ("Investment GP"), by Thomas R. Denison, Manager, is signing for itself, and for the NRP Entities described in Footnote 1.

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