A method and an apparatus are provided for preventing overload of a lifting mechanism for a container crane installation, comprising two identical lifting mechanisms on either side of a gear mechanism (20), each with a drive motor (50, 50'), of which the drive shaft (60, 60') is connected to a gear-mechanism input shaft (80, 80'), and with a safety brake (180, 180') on a cable drum (140, 140') on an output shaft (120, 120') of the gear mechanism (20), wherein lifting cables (150, 150') guided around the cable drum are connected to a load (160) or to a container-receiving headblock (160), and wherein, when a raised container is being raised and moved, at least one sensor (130, 130') determines an overload or a potential overload and the sensor (130, 130') triggers the safety brake (180, 180') on the cable drums and also a blocking brake (70, 70'), which is provided on the motor-drive shaft (60, 60') and stops the flywheel mass of the motor.