SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 SCHEDULE 13G (Rule 13d-102) INFORMATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO RULES 13d-1 AND 13d-2 Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.__________)* Sterling Chemical Inc. ----------------------------------------------------- (Name of Issuer) Common Stock ----------------------------------------------------- (Title of Class of Securities) 859166100 ----------------------------------------------------- (CUSIP Number) Check the following box if a fee is being paid with this statement [ ]. ---------- *The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page. The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes). CUSIP No. 859166100 13G Page 2 of 4 Pages 1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSON(S) S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON(S) Northeast Investors Trust 04-6012886 2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP* (a) [ ] (b) [ ] 3. SEC USE ONLY 4. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Boston, MA NUMBER OF 5. SOLE VOTING POWER SHARES 245,739 BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY 6. SHARED VOTING POWER EACH -0- REPORTING PERSON 7. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER WITH 245,739 8. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER -0- 9. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 245,739 10. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES* 11. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9) 8.70% 12. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON* IV 13G Page 3 of 4 Pages Item 1. (a) Sterling Chemical Inc. (b) 1200 Smith Street, Suite 1900, Houston, TX 77002-4312 Item 2. (a) Northeast Investors Trust (b) 50 Congress Street, Boston, MA 02109-4096 (c) Massachusetts (d) Common Stock (e) 859166100 Item 3. (d) [X] Investment Company registered under Section 8 of the Investment Company Act, 13-G Page 4 of 4 Pages Item 4. (a) 245,739 (b) 8.70% (c) (i) 245,739 (ii) -0- (iii) 245,739 (iv) -0- (d) -0- Item 5. N/A Item 6. N/A Item 7. N/A Item 8. N/A Item 9. N/A Item 10. Certification. By signing below -I/we- certify that, to the best of my/our knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were acquired in the ordinary course of business and were not acquired for the purpose of and do not have the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of such securities and were not acquired in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having such purpose or effect. Signature. After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, -I/we- certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct. Date: February 13, 2003 ---------------------------------- (Signature)* Robert B. Minturn, Trustee ---------------------------------- (Name/Title) * Attention. Intentional misstatements or omissions of fact constitute federal criminal violations (see 18 U.S.C. 1001).