The accuracy of Rayleigh scattering calculation affects the quality of atmospheric correction of the ocean color remote sensing significantly, and it is essential to solve the vector radiative transfer equation (VRTE) in plane-parallel atmosphere to improve the accuracy of Rayleigh scattering calculation. This paper deduces the basic equations of VRTE with the adding-doubling method in detail, and expounds the principle of the adding-doubling method. By comparing with the exact Rayleigh scattering radiance derived from SeaWiFS (sea-viewing wide field-of-view sensor) exact Rayleigh scattering look-up table, it shows that the relative error of Rayleigh scattering calculation with the adding-doubling method is less than 0.5%, which meets the required accuracy of the atmospheric correction of ocean color remote sensing. Therefore, the adding-doubling method can be used to generate the Rayleigh scattering look-up table for Chinese ocean color and temperature scanner (COCTS). Finally, using the developed vector radiative transfer code with adding-doubling method, we had generated the exact Rayleigh scattering look-up tables for COCTS. Also, the vector radiative transfer code developed can be used to generate the exact Rayleigh scattering look-up table for Chinese second generation ocean color remote sensors which have high performances.