Abstract: In an apparatus for verifying a container number of a container during unloading and loading of ships by a container crane in a container terminal, a camera system is mounted to the container crane for optically ascertaining a container number imprinted on an upper right-hand corner of a container sidewall to generate an image. Operatively connected to the camera system is an image evaluation system for identifying the container number that has been shot by the camera system. The image evaluation system cooperates with an administrative computer, which is provided in the container terminal, in such a manner that the identified container number is compared with a stored container number in the administrative computer.