In this paper, we consider the sway suppression control problem for container cranes with load hoisting. The proposed control law improves the positioning accuracy but also the sway suppression through fast stabilization of the under-actuated sway dynamics, which is based on a class of feedback linearizing control incorporated with an additional control including the sway angle and its rate as well as positioning errors and their rates. For the design of the additional control, a variable structure control with the proper sway damping and simple switching action is employed, thus preventing excessive overshoots of the trolley travelljng and effectively suppressing the residual sway of container arrived at the target position. Simulation results are provided to show effectiveness of the proposed controller in the presence of such uncertainties as winds and the variation of payload weights.