Vibrational Raman scattering by liquid water (ocean Raman scattering) significantly contributes to the filling-in of solar Fraunhofer lines observed by satellite backscatter ultraviolet (buv) instruments in the cloudless atmosphere over clear ocean waters. A radiative transfer model accounting for this effect in buv measurements has been developed and the results compared with observations from the European Space Agency's Global Ozone Monitoring Experiment (GOME). The model extends existing models for ocean Raman scattering to the UV spectral range. Ocean Raman scattering radiance is propagated through the atmosphere using a concept of the Lambert equivalent reflectivity and an accurate radiative transfer model for Rayleigh scattering. The good agreement between model and observations suggests that buv instruments may be useful for estimating chlorophyll and dissolved organic matter contents.