Abstract: A system for automatically identifying containers that are loaded/unloaded by a crane and for capturing and/or analyzing images of at least a part of the container. A camera control system is arranged to receive information generated in, and/or transmitted from, a crane control system thereby controlling at least one of the functions of one or more cameras in order to capture one or more images of at least a part of the container. A method for identifying and tracking a container handled by a crane in a container terminal includes locating/mounting one or more cameras on a crane structure; activating the correct camera or cameras when a container is near or approaching the camera level; capturing one or more images of at least a part of the container; analyzing the captured images to identify the container ID; and recording/storing the ID and information regarding the container.

Abstract: The present invention refers to a system for automatically identifying containers that are loaded/unloaded by a crane, preferable at port areas, and for capturing and/or analyzing images of at least a part of the container, comprising at least one camera, a camera control system and a crane control system. The problems with such systems are to capture images with good quality that can be safely analyzed, without stopping or hamper the loading/unloading procedure. The problems are solved by the invention by that the camera control system (CCR) is arranged to receive information generated in, and/or transmitted from, the crane control system (CCS) thereby controlling at least one of the functions of the camera or cameras (13) in order to capture one or more images of at least a part of the container (5).