In this paper in optimal modulation controller for position control and anti-sway of container crane systems is designed by a recursive algorithm that determines the state weighting matrix Q of a linear quadratic performance. The optimal modulation controller is based on optimal control. The basic feature of the recursive algorithm is the reduction of the number of iterations as well as minimization of the calculations involved So in order to obtain a mathematical model which rep-resents the equation of motion of the trolley and load Lagrange equation is used. The optimal modulation controller has been verified and simulated to show that it is robust when a load dis-turbance is applied and a reference is changed.