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.